Michael Cross, CEO and Tour Director of Vacanze Italiane - Italian Holidays, LLC, the St Louis based tour agency focused exclusively on Italy and the Mediterranean, has announced five trips to different parts of Italy for the 2027 season. In addition to his Italy trips, earlier this year, he has founded a new company, Cross the World Adventures, LLC which customizing adventures worldwide. 

"We're so excited to announce 5 great trips for next year", Cross said in a Facebook post last week. "These are once-in-a-lifetime adventures that you don't want to miss." 

Anne Russell, who traveled with Michael last year remarked "These tours are very popular and sell out fast because Michael focusses on specific regions and he has no more than 15 individuals per tour."  Russell continued, "The Italian community in St Louis is very fortunate to have him and I look forward to going with him on another of his trips this September to Southern Italy. I'm so excited!" 

The Italian Community of St Louis is proud to partner exclusively with Vacanze Italiane - Italian Holidays, LLC, for guided tours of Italy and we thank them for being a generous sponsor of our community. If you are interested in traveling to Italy, you can find the details and the flyers for the 2027 tours below. For additional information, please contact Michael directly at [email protected], call him at 225-239-3897, or visit his website www.italianholidays.net 

Rome & Central Italy (includes Assisi & Loreto)
May 12 - 22, 2027 (10 Day Trip)
Double: $3,700
Single: $3,900

Tuscany & The Italian Riviera (includes Cinque Terre)
May 26 - June 7, 2027 (12 Day Trip)
Double: $3,900
Single: $4,100

Secrets of Southern Italy (includes Amalfi Coast and the Salento region of Puglia)
June 11 - 23, 2027 (12 Day Trip)
Double: $3,900
Single: $4,100

Venice & Northeastern Italy
(includes Dolomiti Mountains, Prosecco Wine Country & Trieste)
Sept. 7 - 19, 2027 (12 Day Trip)
Double: $3,900
Single: $4,100
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Discover Sardinia
Sept. 27 - Oct 7 (10 Day Trip)
Double: $3,700
Single: $3,900

MaPaCi (Mamme e Papà per la Cultura Italiana) connette le mamme e i papà di origini italiane che vivono a St Louis, Missouri ed Illinois. Il loro obiettivo è di trasmettere la lingua e la cultura italiane ai loro bambini, promuovendo attività ludico-ricreative.

MaPaCi fa parte della Comunità italiana di St Louis, un’associazione no-profit basata sul volontariato e registrata in Missouri nel 2016. La comunità italiana di St Louis connette gli italiani a St Louis ed educa la cittadinanza sulla cultura italiana contemporanea.

Per essere aggiornati sulle attività di MaPaCi iscriviti alla newsletter: www.stlouisitalians.com

La comunità italiana di St Louis connette gli italiani a St Louis. Ancora oggi, a partire dal 2016, girando per le strade di St Louis capita di sentir parlare italiano tra genitori e figli per strada. Sono allucinazioni acustiche dovute alla nostalgia per il Bel Paese oppure di italiani con figli a St Louis ce ne sono davvero? Questo gruppo ci darà una risposta.

Per saperne di più, clicca qui: MaPaCi di Italians in St Louis | Facebook

The Three Italian Tenors Concert at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis drew over 650 people, making it one of the largest attended Italian concerts in St Louis history.

Italian Tenors Giovanni Leccese, Alessandro Fantoni, Ugo Tarquini, and Gaetano Amore along with pianist Fabrizio Mocata performed at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis on Friday, March 27, presenting an extraordinary program of the most famously beloved Sacred Arias and songs, fusing Italian wit and charm with romanticism, lyricism, dramatic flair and operatic style. The concert was sponsored by Mr. Michael Cross and Vacanze Italiane - Italian Holidays LLC.

Among the prominent guests was Archbishop of St Louis, Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski. Many St Louis Italians from all over attended the concert including Chris & Toni Pagano from the Italia-America Bocce Club, artist Evelyn Astegno, WashU Neuroscientist Federica Lucantonio, and many others from the entire metropolitan region. All photos courtesy of Christopher Kennebeck.

Enjoy the photos of the concert below.

​The Three Italian Tenors
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7:30pm
Doors open at 7:00pm
​
Welcomed by Michael Cross & Italian Holidays, LLC

The Three Italian Tenors present an extraordinary program of the most famously beloved Sacred Arias and Songs, fusing Italian wit and charm with romanticism, lyricism, dramatic flair and operatic style. Audiences will be captivated with this first concert tour of North America by the spectacular Three Italian Tenors.

​Tenors Gianni Leccese, Ugo Tarquini and Alessandro Fantoni will be accompanied by Fabrizio Mocata on piano.

Click HERE to purchase your tickets. 

Traveling to Italy this Summer or Fall? Want to brush up on your Italian skills? Michael Cross, Adjunct Professor of Italian at St Louis Community College is offering two classes that you don't want to miss: Italian for Travelers and Italian Conversation. These classes are a late spring edition for the St Louis Italian Language Program.

Italian for Travelers Course Description
Learn the basics of Italian including pronunciation, greetings, numbers, and useful key phrases that allow you to handle most typical travel situations with confidence. The focus is on valuable travel tips and practical information. A must-have to enrich your travel experience.

Italian Conversation Course Description
Designed for intermediate level speakers, this small-group class will help you master Italy’s lyrical language while having fun. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Italian language while engaging in lively discussions, interactive exercises, and storytelling.

​For more information or to enroll in one of the classes, send an email to: [email protected]

Italian summer language courses are coming to St Louis! St Louis Priory School is offering intensive language courses for adults in June. That includes Italian! Tiziana Orsini will be teaching Italian Beginning classes and Giovanna Leopardi will be teaching Italian Intermediate classes.  

The classes include:
- (5) 50-minute Italian classes per day,
- 1,250 minutes of instruction with Giovanna and Tiziana
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Monday - Friday with one hour for lunch
- All day refreshments and freshly prepared lunch
- party with drinks and food on Monday and Friday
- stunning 150-acre campus with modern facilities

There are limited spaces so please sign up today! 

Italian instructors: Tiziana Orsini & Giovanna Leopardi
Cost: $660
Register by May 20, 2026

For questions or to sign up, email Josh Dixon at [email protected]

The new statistics are out! Per the data collected by the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago, 2,038 native born Italians reside in the St Louis Metropolitan region as of January 1, 2026. This is an increase of 32 new Italian citizens since January 1, 2025.

​The top 5 areas where Italians reside are: Clayton, the Central West End (neighborhood of St Louis City), Richmond Heights, Chesterfield, and Saint Louis Hills (neighborhood of St Louis City). There is only one native-born Italian left who lives in The Hill neighborhood. That person is over 80 years old.  

The Scalero Legacy Festival Concert will spotlight rarely heard works by Italian composer Rosario Scalero (1870–1954) and two of his distinguished students, Gian Carlo Menotti and Luigi Zaninelli. Featuring previously unpublished compositions by both Scalero and Zaninelli, the program celebrates a rich lineage of compositional study and influence.

An all-star roster of performers—including sopranos Christine Brewer and Bethany Worrell, pianist Alla Voskoboynikova, the Arianna String Quartet, and cellist Elisabeth Logan—will present music for soprano and piano, soprano and string quintet, violin and piano, and solo violin and viola. This concert forms the centerpiece of the three-day Scalero Legacy Festival, which also offers lectures, interviews, and a public masterclass—all other events free and open to the public.

Special thanks goes to Dr. Bethany Worrell, Director of Vocal Studies at the Department of Music of the University of Missouri - St Louis, for offering the Italian Community of St Louis and member organizations 50% OFF TICKETS for the Scalero Legacy Festival Concert on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7:30pm. The concert will take place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at 1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, MO 63121. Please contact us via email to receive the code for 50% off your ticket: [email protected]

Members of the following organizations and clubs as well as students of the Italian language are eligible to receive 50% off tickets for this performance. Please contact us via email for the code. ​

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS

​Rosario Scalero (1870 - 1954) was an Italian violinist, music teacher and composer from Moncalieri in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. In 1891, Scalero made his debut as a recitalist in Leipzig, following which he performed in Milan, Rome, London, and throughout Europe to critical acclaim. In 1907 Scalero went to Rome where he joined the Società del Quartetto and became its musical director and first violinist. Among his most notable works are: A Suite for String Quartet and String Orchestra, La Divina Foresta, symphonic poem for large orchestra, and Violin Sonata (Op.12, D minor, published 1910).

The Italian Community of St Louis invites you to our annual Friendsgiving, a traditional Thanksgiving celebration with an Italian twist, on Saturday, November 22, 5pm - 10pm.

LOCATION
The Grand Hall in Downtown St Louis (right next to the City Museum)
Address: 1511 Washington Avenue, St Louis, Mo. 63103

TICKETS
Adults: $18 per person 
Children under 12 are FREE

The purchase of a ticket includes main course, sides, and desserts made by Chef Alessandro Valentino and members of the Italian Community.

OPEN BAR
We have a huge bar with professional bar tenders serving us the entire evening. Get unlimited drinks while supply lasts! 

RSVP REQUIRED
To RSVP, please send an email to Giovanna Leopardi: [email protected]

HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET
To purchase your ticket, please VENMO Giovanna Leopardi: @Giovanna-Leopardi or contact her: 314-566-3873. You can also purchase your ticket at the entrance. ​

La nuova legge permette a chi ha perso la cittadinanza italiana prima del 15 agosto 1992 di riacquisirla tramite il consolato di riferimento, ma la domanda deve essere presentata prima del 31 dicembre 2027. Chi ha perso la cittadinanza italiana prima del 15 agosto 1992 può richiederne il riacquisto presentando domanda al Consolato General d'Italia di Chicago tra il 1° luglio 2025 e il 31 dicembre 2027, dietro pagamento di 250 euro.

La procedura riguarda chi è nato in Italia o vi ha vissuto almeno due anni e l’ha persa, ad esempio, acquisendo un’altra cittadinanza. Dal 1° gennaio 2028 non sarà più possibile riottenere la cittadinanza con queste regole.

It's been a long time since the last non-stop flight from St Louis to Italy during TWA's heyday when there was a direct flight from St Louis (STL) to Rome (FCO). After American Airlines bought out TWA in 2001 and subsequently downsized their St Louis hub in 2003, there wasn't a direct flight from STL to Europe until 2022 when Lufthansa began their direct flights to Frankfurt, Germany. Today it was just announced that starting April 19, 2026, British Airways will begin non-stop service from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), connecting St. Louis travelers to one of the world’s largest global hubs.

What does this mean for St Louisans wanting a direct flight to Italy? While it would be a dream for many to have a direct flight to Rome or Milan, the probability of that happening is slim. We'll take what we can get. More non-stops from STL to Europe is definitely something to be grateful for.  

But can't you transfer in Atlanta, New York, or Chicago? Sure, but then you'll have to contend with the massive crowds and the long wait times for security and customs. Having flown to various destinations in Italy on the Lufthansa flight via Frankfurt five times in the past two years, I can attest that it's much easier returning directly to St Louis without having to transfer through airports like Houston, Philadelphia, or Newark.  

With just one stop in Frankfurt (FRA) on Lufthansa, you can fly directly to Italy's three major airports: Rome (FCO), Milan (MXP), and Venice (VCE). There are also direct flights from Frankfurt to the majority of Italy's smaller airports, Florence (FLR), Bologna (BLQ), Trieste (TRS), Verona (VRN), Pisa (PSA), Torino (TRN), Naples (NAP), Bari (BRI), Cagliari (CAG), and Catania (CTA) and flights to many other Mediterranean destinations such as Pola (PUY) and Fiume-Rijeka (RJK).    

With just one stop in London (LHR) on British Airways, you can fly directly to many of the same destinations with the additions of Rimini (RMI), Olbia, Sardinia (OLB), Brindisi (BDS), and Perugia (PEG), the airport closest to Assisi. 

Demand from St Louis to Europe has grown as Lufthansa increased the route’s frequency to five days a week for next year. British Airways will fly its STL-LHR route four times each week starting April 19, 2026. Visit their website for flight information.  

While St Louis may not have a direct flight to Italy, enjoying the "dolce vita" just got a bit closer to home. 

​Il nostro caro amico e viaggiatore del mondo, Carlo Pietro Sanfilippo, autore americano, presenta: "Passo dopo passo, il mio viaggio italiano" Questo evento avrà luogo al World Trade Center - Saint Louis a Clayton. Stavolta non ci sarà una cena prima della presentazione ma tutti sono calorosamente incoraggiati a uscire in zona insieme dopo per una cena o aperitivo.

Giovedì, 9 ottobre 2025 alle 17,00
​
World Trade Center - St Louis
Main Conference Room
120 South Central Avenue, Suite 200
Saint Louis, Missouri 63105

Diamo quindi il nostro caloroso benvenuto a Carlo Pietro Sanfilippo e arrivederci a giovedì 9 ottobre per un incontro che combinerà l’amicizia. Prenotate al più presto rispondendo all’invito che riceverete via email da Evite, oppure chiamando Scott Hoff al 314-304-5972 o inviandogli una email a [email protected].
​
A presto,
Scott Hoff
Presidente, Club Italiano per piacere

On Sunday, August 24, the Italian Community of St Louis hosted its 8th Annual Ferragosto, a traditional Italian summer festival at Shaw Park in Clayton. Over 350 people attend, the largest crowd to date. This special event wouldn't be possible without the hard work of the following volunteers: Alessandro Valentino, Tiziana Orsini, Rachel Radmanash, Debbie Leone, Paolo Gabriele, Concetta Gabriele, Giovanna Leopardi, Michael Cross, Carlo Pietro Sanfilippo, Vito Alu, Ruth Watt, Scott Hoff, and Maria Clea Annecchiarico. 

Sponsors of the event included Nooter/Eriksen, Arteco Global, Italian Citizenship Assistance, and Vacanze Italiane - Italian Holidays, LLC. 

The event was well attended by many organizations who came from throughout the St Louis metropolitan area, including Club Italiano Per Piacere, Sicilian Cultural Association of St Louis, Italian Club of St Louis, Italian Business Association of St Louis, Italia - America Bocce Club, the St Louis Italian Language Program, and the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities.

Enjoy photos taken during the event.