L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano W h e n t h e N a t i o n - a l I t a l - i a n A m e r i - c a n F o u n d a t i o n announced Lombardia as its R e g i o n o f H o n o r f o r 2026, the choice was pre- sented, predictably, in terms of its excellence in economic strength, cultural heritage, and international relevance. Yet the significance of this d e s i g n a t i o n g o e s b e y o n d mere descriptors, because Lombardia, when looking at it closely, is important for what it represents: a region where many of Italy's defin- ing contradictions cohabit in a single territory, where his- tory coexists with relentless modernity, and where tradi- tion and innovation are not opposites but parallel forces. The Region of Honor pro- gram was conceived by NIAF as a way to highlight Italy's regional diversity while strengthening cultural, edu- cational, and economic ties with the United States. Each y e a r , o n e I t a l i a n r e g i o n becomes the focus of NIAF's public programming, includ- ing major galas, educational initiatives, and cultural travel e x p e r i e n c e s a n d , i n t h i s sense, the choice of Lombar- dia is certainly strategic: the region already operates com- fortably on a global scale, while crucially remaining rooted in forms of heritage that are intensely local, even ancient. Of course, the year itself, 2026, which is also s e e i n g t h e W i n t e r O l y m p i c s h o s t e d a c r o s s Northern Italy, gives the des- ignation additional impor- tance, placing Lombardia at the center of an international conversation about contem- porary Italy. To understand why Lom- bardia fits this role so well, h o w e v e r , w e s h o u l d l o o k b e y o n d i t s r e p u t a t i o n a s Italy's economic engine and also consider the extraordi- nary range, both in terms of time and typology, of its cul- t u r a l l a n d s c a p e . I n V a l C a m o n i c a , f o r e x a m p l e , thousands of prehistoric rock engravings cover the valley's stone surfaces, documenting human presence over millen- nia with artefacts so central to the history of the country and of Europe to have been t h e f i r s t o f I t a l y ' s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At the other end of the historical spectrum lies an equally symbolic tradition, the craft of violin making in Cremona. Also recog- nized by UNESCO as Intan- gible Cultural Heritage, Cre- monese lutherie represents a rare continuity between arti- sanal knowledge and con- t e m p o r a r y p r a c t i c e . T h e t e c h n i q u e s d e v e l o p e d b y masters such as Stradivari and Guarneri continue to l i v e a n d t h r i v e t h r o u g h w o r k s h o p s t h a t r e m a i n active and internationally respected. Here, we see her- itage at its most active, as living expertise, sustained through disciplined trans- mission and global demand. I t i s n o c o i n c i d e n c e t h a t NIAF's announcement high- lighted Cremona as a symbol o f L o m b a r d e x c e l l e n c e , b e c a u s e t h e c i t y i s a t r u e ideal of how local tradition can remain fully relevant in modernity. Between these two poles – prehistoric traces and excel- lence in craftsmanship – we h a v e M i l a n , a c i t y t h a t became synonymous with Italy's modern global pres- ence. Milan is, first and fore- most, an influential city, a h u b o f i n v e n t i o n a n d progress in fashion, design, f i n a n c e , a n d p u b l i s h i n g , holding a role that has long exceeded national bound- aries. What often goes unno- t i c e d i s , h o w e v e r , h o w deeply Milan's contempo- rary identity remains tied to i t s r e g i o n a l c o n t e x t . T h e city's capacity for innovation has historically depended on the industrial, agricultural, a n d h u m a n n e t w o r k s o f Lombardia as a whole, and, in this sense, it remains a clear and detailed mirror of the region as a whole. P e r h a p s , w h a t m a k e s Lombardia particularly con- vincing as a Region of Honor is precisely this ability to function as a microcosm of Italy itself, also from a geo- u r b a n p o i n t o f v i e w : t h e region encompasses Alpine landscapes and fertile plains, s m a l l t o w n s a n d d e n s e urban centers, old tradition and cutting-edge research: let's not forget it hosts some of Europe's most advanced m a n u f a c t u r i n g d i s t r i c t s alongside protected natural a r e a s a n d a r c h a e o l o g i c a l sites of global importance. So, rather than offering a single, easily consumable i m a g e o f I t a l i a n c u l t u r e , Lombardia gives us a layered – and sometimes challeng- ing – one, which needs our full attention and curiosity to be critically understood and, even more importantly, to be enjoyed. It is, needless to say, a complex cultural landscape that may baffle some of us, especially if not familiar with the region: in the end, much of the popular imagination surrounding Italy abroad has been shaped by selective regional narratives, often centered on food, folklore, or family origins tied to the South. Lombardia somehow m a k e s t h a t i m a g e m o r e complicated, while never, however, negating it. Rather, it calls for a broader under- standing of Italian identity, one that includes industrial i n g e n u i t y , s c i e n t i f i c research, and urban experi- mentation alongside history, art and "Old World" charm. In doing so, I like to think, it almost reflects the diversity of Italian American experi- e n c e s t h e m s e l v e s , w h i c h span multiple regions, pro- fessions, styles and genera- tions. N I A F , a s m e n t i o n e d , emphasizes that the Region o f H o n o r d e s i g n a t i o n i s intended to foster long-term relationships, not one-off celebrations, and in the case of Lombardia, this means opportunities for education- al exchanges, cultural pro- gramming, and institutional d i a l o g u e e x t e n d i n g w e l l beyond ceremonial events. Travel initiatives such as NIAF's Voyage of Discov- ery program, for instance, h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d t o immerse participants in the region's cultural fabric, in an approach fitting very well the nature and character of Lombardia itself, a region which needs to be gradually appreciated, and discovered with time and care. So, while now, as the first week of February draws to a n e n d , o u r a t t e n t i o n i s inevitably focused on the Winter Olympics (which are b e g i n n i n g t o m o r r o w ) w e should keep in mind that Lombardia has a deeper his- tory made of stone engrav- i n g s , w o r k s h o p b e n c h e s , urban institutions, art and beauty. In this sense, the NIAF designation honors L o m b a r d i a b u t a l s o acknowledges its essential role as a key operator at the intersection of Italian mem- ory and modernity. By choosing Lombardia as its Region of Honor, NIAF selected a territory that can- not be reduced to stereo- t y p e s o r s i m p l i f i c a t i o n ; rather, it brings us a region demanding to be read across time, across disciplines, and across scales. For us Italian from the other side of the ocean, that challenge is pre- cisely the point. L o m b a r d i a , r e g i o n o f h o n o r 2 0 2 6 : a modern portrait of Italy CHIARA D'ALESSIO Milan's Duomo, an icon of Gothic architecture and symbol of the city (Photo: Jan Skwara/Dreamstime); bottom right, Sirmione Castle, on Lake Garda. Sirmione, in the province of Brescia, is a known tourist location in Lombardia (Photo: Nikonaft/Dreamstime) ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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