“Don’t cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you……” With these words from the popular song “Don’t cry for me Argentina” we want to introduce the next story told by da Carlos Di Bella, argentinian but whose father was from Gratteri, emigrated to Buenos Aires in 1959.

Argentina has been, for many years, the destination of many Italian emigrants, tired of the war and looking for a brighter future. Latina America, indeed, was yet to be developed and the conditions were great for millions of Europeans.

So they left for Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil and, after some time, the rest of the family reached them. Carlos’ father was Giacomo Di Bella, born in Gratteri on February 27, 1945, son of Biagio (Blas) Di Bella (di Caronia) and Sebastiana Matassa born in Gratteri in 1917, daughter of Giacomo (1873, son of Giovanmaria e Sebastiana Santino) and Rosaria D’Agostaro (1884, daughter of Antonino and Rosaria Cortina).

Giacomo grew up in Gratteri attending elementary school and immediately after working, until he was 14, as a shop apprentice where he learned how to make handicrafts by weaving wicker baskets.

However, in 1959, his father convinced himself to leave Sicily to meet with his relatives in Argentina, taking his wife and his four children with him: Antonio, Giacomo, Salvatore and Angela. So the young man leaves his motherland, Saying goodbye to his friends and his grandparents, whom he will never see again.

The family arrived in Genoa where they embarked on a ship for Buenos Aires. The journey was exhausting and lasted several weeks until, on November 2, 1959, they finally arrived in Buenos Aires. On their arrival they were welcomed by their uncles, Giacomo Matassa and Tias Di Bella.

Because of the conditions in which the family was living were not the best, the children immediately began to work. Giacomo worked as an apprentice in a shoe factory, until, after 10 years of work and sacrifice, at the age of 24, finally managed to buy a house for his mother. Meanwhile he married Susana Olivastri who gave birth to three children: Carlos, Luis and Daniel di Bella.

In 1979, he kept the promise made to his mother immediately after leaving Gratteri, the promise of bringing her back to meet her brothers: Gianmaria, Angelo, Antonio, Giuseppe, Giacomo, Salvatore, Rosaria, Santa. It’s a big party. The Matassa family was reunited again after many years.

Sadly, that will be the last time Sebastiana will see Gratteri and his relatives. The memories that came back to Giacomo after 20 years from his departure are many. Every district, every corner of the country has its memories: schools, the clock, the Grotta Grattara, the Scala.

The Di Bella Family came back to Argentina with a lot of emotions. Giacomo managed to start his own business where he will work for the rest of his days. His name was converted into Santiago. Today his three children work together in their father’s shop “Da Giacomo” and still produce shoes in Buenos Aires.

Their shop represents a piece of Sicily in Argentina, where there are photos of San Giacomo and Gratteri that will always be carried in their hearts. Giacomo Di Bella died in Argentina on January 13, 1994. His brother, Antonio, married Olga Maldonado and, after the economic crisis of 2001 he returned to Gratteri with his family where he died in 2003.

Salvador married Matilde Caporale (she died in Argentina in 2006) and Angela married Armando Diaz and moved to Cuneo. Gratteri will remain, for the brothers, a place to return on holiday to find peace and spend precious time with the family.

Argentina is today the country with the largest community of citizens of Italian origin in the world. In the first photo Sebastiana Matassa and her sons Antonio, Giacomo, Salvatore and Angela just arrived in Buenos Aires in 1959. In the next photos, Giacomo Di Bella, children and grandchildren in their shoe shop in Buenos Aires. Photos of Carlos Di Bella.

In 1979, he kept the promise made to his mother immediately after leaving Gratteri, di bringing her back to meet her brothers: Gianmaria, Angelo, Antonio, Giuseppe, Giacomo, Salvatore, Rosaria, Santa. It’s a big party. The Matassa family was reunited again after many years.

Sadly, that will be the last time Sebastiana will see Gratteri and his relatives. The memories that came back to Giacomo after 20 years from his departure are many. Every district, every corner of the country has its memories: schools, the clock, the Grotta Grattara, the Scala.

The Di Bella family came back to Argentina with a lot of emotions. Giacomo managed to start his own business where he will work for the rest of his days. His name was converted into Santiago. Today his three children work together in their father’s shop “Da Giacomo” and still produce shoes in Buenos Aires.

Ther shop is a piece of Sicily in Argentina, where there are photos of San Giacomo and Gratteri, that will always carry in their hearts. Giacomo Di Bella died in Argentina on January 13, 1994. His brother, Antonio, married Olga Maldonado and, after the economic crisis of 2001 returned to Gratteri with his family where he died in 2003.

Salvador married Matilde Caporale (she will die in Argentina in 2006) and Angela married Armando Diaz and moved to Cuneo. Gratteri will remain, for the brothers, a place to return on holiday to find peace and spend precious time with the family.

Argentina is today the country with the largest community of citizens of Italian origin in the world. In the first photo Sebastiana Matassa and her sons Antonio, Giacomo, Salvatore and Angela just arrived in Buenos Aires in 1959. In the next photos, Giacomo Di Bella, children and grandchildren in their shoe shop in Buenos Aires. Photos of Carlos Di Bella.

Ricostruzione di Marco Fragale #iltempodelritorno