Festa della Repubblica Italiana – San Francisco’s Official Celebration

 

For many years, the most coveted invitation in the Italian Community of San Francisco had been for the annual celebration of the Festa della Repubblica Italiana, held at the Italian Consulate.  Being on “the list” was considered a great honor, and for many, the only chance they would have to see the inside of the Italian Consulate in Pacific Heights.  It also provided bragging rights to those who attended, and placed one in the rarified company of the leaders of the Italian Community.

 

When word got out that the new Consul General, the Honorable Mauro Battocchi, was going to shake things up a little, there was initial apprehension. After attending last year’s celebration as a guest, Consul Battocchi saw the difficulty of wanting to be more inclusive, but being confined to a venue already bursting at the seams with guests.  When he became a member of the venerable Saint Francis Yacht Club earlier this year, the solution to the problem became clear:  move the celebration from the consulate to the larger Saint Francis.

 

There were mixed reactions in the community.  With the capacity for a much larger group, would it still be considered a gathering of the prominenti, or would it just be another gathering of Italian-Americans?  Would the move away from the consulate cause some to miss their chance to see the inside of la grande casa?

 

Monday night’s event at the Saint Francis Yacht Club proved once and for all that the Consul General’s innovative idea was truly inspired.  From the first moment one entered the Saint Francis Yacht Club and was welcomed with a glass of prosecco by the elegantly-attired consular staff member Paola Lara, it was clear that this would not be a typical celebration.  Reaching the top of the grand staircase, guests were welcomed again by the Consul General and his partner Asher Berry, followed by a receiving line of Italian dignitaries.

 

The prominenti were there in force, and even with the expanded list of invited guests, the elbow-to-elbow revelers were clearly pleased to have been invited, as well as to have been given the opportunity to enjoy the elegant venue with breath-taking 180 degree views of the San Francisco Bay, stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge, to Alcatraz and Angel Islands, to the soon to be completed Bay Bridge.

 

At last year’s celebration at the Italian Consulate, there were whispers about how the once-grand refreshments had been affected by the economic crisis that had taken a grip of both America and Europe.  The once lavish offerings had been reduced to typical finger foods that, while still appreciated, lacked the flair of earlier years.  There were no complaints, only a longing for a return to the pre-recession grandeur upon which guests had come to rely.

 

In short, the Consul General’s first Due Giugno celebration was unmatched in terms of creativity, innovation, style and execution.  The Saint Francis Yacht Club—always considered a premiere venue for the most important of occasions—once again proved itself as the best San Francisco has to offer.

 

 The official program was mercifully brief, and hardly prevented the fun and exciting evening from slowing down.  Cav. Maria Fassio Pignati, State President of the Order Sons of Italy in America once again was called upon by the Consul General to sing both the Italian and American national anthems.  

Dignitaries, as well as past and present elected officials spoke briefly, and four state legislators presented the Consul General with a proclamation signed by State Senator Mark Leno, in recognition of Festa della Repubblica Italiana day. 

 

 The crew of the Italian Americas Cup team Luna Rossa spoke briefly, as did opera singers promoting the upcoming visit of the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli—a grand event to be held later this year, in which the famed Italian opera company will join with the San Francisco Opera to present a joint performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem in honor of the maestro’s 200th birthday celebration.

 

As the sun set behind the Golden Gate Bridge, it was clear that the Italian Community of San Francisco had entered a new era with a new Consul General, whose seemingly unorthodox approach to a very traditional community is exactly what was called for.  If this grand celebration is any indication, the future looks bright for our community under the guidance of Mauro Battocchi.