São Paulo and Corigliano-Rossano Sign Cooperation Agreement

The city of São Paulo formalized a cooperation agreement with the municipality of Corigliano-Rossano, in the Calabria region, recognizing the historical bonds created by generations of Rossanese immigrants who settled in the São Paulo capital. The document was signed on September 2, at the headquarters of São Paulo's Municipal Secretariat of International Relations.

The agreement between São Paulo and Corigliano-Rossano

The signing brought together the mayor of Corigliano-Rossano, Flavio Stasi, and São Paulo's Municipal Secretary of International Relations, Angela Gandra. According to Comunità Italiana, the document formally recognizes the historical ties between the two cities, built over more than a century by the presence of Calabrese families who left the Calabria region for Brazil.

The agreement is not limited to a symbolic gesture: it establishes the institutional foundations for São Paulo and Corigliano-Rossano to develop, in the coming years, joint initiatives in cultural, educational, and economic areas, expanding a relationship that until then was sustained mainly by the affective memory of descendant families.

The role of Bixiga and the Achiropita Church

No symbol better represents this relationship than the Bixiga neighborhood, one of the main landmarks of Italian immigration in São Paulo. It was there that much of the Calabrese immigrants settled from the late 19th century onward, shaping the identity of a region that still preserves traditions, celebrations, and devotion inherited from their homeland.

The Church of Our Lady Achiropita, built by the Calabrese community, is the religious and cultural center that keeps this heritage alive. According to Comunità Italiana, the Italian delegation participated in the traditional Festa di Nossa Senhora Achiropita during their visit to São Paulo, reinforcing the symbolic character of the visit and its direct connection to the faith and customs brought by Rossanese immigrants.

The Italian delegation's agenda in São Paulo

The visit of the Corigliano-Rossano delegation took place between August 27 and September 2, with an agenda that covered different points in the São Paulo capital linked to the Italian presence in the city. According to Comunità Italiana, the delegation visited the Mooca neighborhood, also marked by Italian immigration, in addition to fulfilling institutional commitments at São Paulo's City Council, the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly, and the Italian Consulate.

The Italian delegation included the vice-president of the Communal Council of Corigliano-Rossano and councilors from the Calabrese municipality, who closely followed the different stages of the program. One of the moments of the visit was a reception at the Edifício Itália, with the presence of Luciana Laspro, representative of the Circolo Italiano of São Paulo, an entity that brings together descendants and enthusiasts of Italian culture in the city.

For those following institutional developments between Brazilian and Italian municipalities, Raízes Italianas' News from Italy section brings frequent updates on agreements, official visits, and similar initiatives involving descendant communities throughout Brazil.

Young São Paulo residents heading to Calabria

One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the delegation's return to Italy accompanied by a group of young people from São Paulo. According to Comunità Italiana, these young people will participate in the official celebrations of the cooperation agreement that will take place in Corigliano-Rossano, in Calabria.

The initiative seeks to engage new generations of descendants in the relationship between the two cities, creating a bridge that does not depend only on the memory of the elders, but also directly involves young people who today maintain, often indirectly, the link with the land of their ancestors.

For those thinking about exploring this connection in a more concrete way, whether through exchange trips or temporary studies in the region of family origin, Raízes Italianas maintains content focused on the Life in Italy section, with practical information about living, studying, and settling in the country.

Why this matters for descendants of Italians in Brazil

For Brazilian families with Calabrese roots, the agreement between São Paulo and Corigliano-Rossano represents more than an institutional document: it is an official recognition of the historical importance that Rossanese immigration had in the formation of the city of São Paulo, especially in Bixiga.

Initiatives like this often open space for future cultural, educational, and economic exchanges between communities, while valuing the preservation of immigrant memory in symbolic spaces like the Achiropita Church.

For descendants who wish to go beyond the symbolic link and formalize their Italian origin, it is possible to seek guidance on Italian Citizenship in our portal, including steps such as searching for certificates in Italy, fundamental for those intending to gather the family documentation before starting any recognition process.

Agreements like the one signed between São Paulo and Corigliano-Rossano reinforce that the relationship between Brazil and Italy remains alive not only in historical records, but also in institutional actions that seek to keep this memory active for future generations.

Do you want to know if you have a right to Italian citizenship? Talk to a specialized Italian citizenship advisory.

Source: Comunità Italiana