Public Invited To Celebration For Newport's Italian Sister City

NEWPORT, RI — Members of the public are invited to a reception celebrating visitors from one of Newport's six sister cities. On Friday, Mayor Jamie Bova and the City Council will host a reception for the delegation from Imperia, Italy.

The reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Edward King House. Light refreshments will be served, and all attendees are invited to a screening of “Marriage Italian Style,” starring Sofia Loren, immediately following. The CineFesta! screening is part of Newport's Festa Italiana, a weeks-long festival celebrating all things Italian.

The eight delegates, Giuseppe Fossati, Vice Mayor and Alderman for Public and Private Urban Planning; Gianmarco Oneglio, Alderman for Trade, Tourism, Industry Crafts, Fishing, and Agriculture; Simone Vassallo, Alderman for Major Events and Biagio Parlatore, President of the Imperia Yacht Club, will arrive in the city on Thursday and stay until Tuesday. They will be a part of Newport's Columbus Day Parade, visit Innovate Newport, and attend the Broadway Street Fair and a Festa Italiana concert on Sunday. On Saturday, a ceremony will celebrate the "twinning" of the Newport Yacht Club and the Imperia Yacht Club.

Newport has been sister cities with Imperia since then-Mayor Alessandro Scajola visited the Coty By the Sea in September 1978.

"The friendliness shown me by the town of Newport moved me deeply--so much so that I sincerely wish to consolidate relations between Newport and Imperia and their respective citizens. To this aim I would a 'Twinning' of towns and wonder whether you would take this into consideration?" Scajola wrote in a letter to then-City Manager Paul Steinbrenner.

The two cities share several similarities, including maritime histories, sailing communities, beautiful harbors and picturesque city architecture. Every other September, a delegation from Newport visits Imperia, while the Italians come to celebrate the Festa Italiana and Columbus Day in October.

Newport has five other sister cities: Shimoda, Japan; Kinsale, Ireland; Ponta Delgada, the Azores; Skiathos, Greece and St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. In July, a delegation from Shimoda visited the city to celebrate the annual Japanese cultural festival.