Welsh Italians

Welsh Italians
Artist Andrew Vicari
Regions with significant populations
South Wales
Languages
English, Welsh, Italian
Religion
Christian: Mostly Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
Italians, Italian Scots, Welsh

Welsh Italians are an ethnic minority of Italian or mixed Italian and Welsh descent living in Wales. Most Italian immigration to Wales took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the largest number of migrants settling in Glamorgan and Newport.[1]

Migration history

The Square Cafe, Bargoed. Circa 1935

Italian immigrants to Wales, mainly originating in the Apennine Mountains and in particular the town of Bardi, established a network of cafés, ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops in Wales from the 1890s onwards.[2] In the Rhondda Valley the cafés became known as "Bracchis" after an early café owner.[2] The brothers Frank and Aldo Berni, who started in business in Merthyr Tydfil, went on to found the Berni Inn chain.[2]

During the Second World War, Welsh Italians without British citizenship were declared enemy aliens and a number were interned on the Isle of Man or in Canada. 53 Welsh Italians lost their lives in the sinking of the Arandora Star in 1940. A memorial was placed in Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral in 2010 to commemorate the tragedy.[3] A memorial chapel is in the cemetery in Bardi.[4]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bardi - The Italian Connection
  2. 1 2 3 The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press 2008
  3. ↑ "Service marks 70th anniversary of ship tragedy". BBC News. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  4. ↑ Alessandro Cardinali (2 July 2016). "Bardi. Commemorazione vittime Arandora Star" (in Italian).
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