Figure 1.--This snapshotvshows some Zingari Abruzzesi, an Itlian Rom group, in 1970. We see two women and a girl wearing traditional oufits. The Abruzzesiare traditionally a travelling group, although in recent times some families have become sedentary. Their travels throughout Italy have traditionally a special reference to the region Abruzzo from which come their name. Women and girls wear more commonly traditional costumes. Bare feet was a common element especially among children and women. In the dialect of Abruzzo region 'to make the Gypsy' means 'to go barefoot'.

Italy has a relatively small Gypsy population, despite the fact that it is one of Europe's most populace countries. There are some 150,000 Gypseys in Italy, but more than half are recent arrivals, primarily from the former Yugoslavia. We are not sure why so few Gypsies settled in Italy until recent years. We suspect it had something to do with the Papacy which in the medival era and until Italian unification (1860s) controlled Rome and much of central Italy. There have been persecution of Gypsies in Italy for centuries. This reached a terrible level during the Fascist era. Even before World War II persecution increased. This was because of border provinces acquired from Austria as part of the World War I peace settlemnt (Venezia Giulia and Venezia Tridentina). Austria Hungary had a much larger Gypsy population than Italy. This meant that many Gypsies in these frontier proivinces suddenly became Italian. There was a significant presence of Rom and Sinti communities in both provinces. The Fascists as a result identified these Gypsies as both ‘undesirable foreigners’ and ‘dangerous Italians’. This provided a dual rationale for placing them in police confinement and interning them when Italy entered World War II (June 1940). There are traditiinally two main ethnic groups of Italian Gypsies: the 'Sinti' and the 'Rom'. In northern Italy, the Sinti were the primary Gypsy group. In the last 30 years it has been progressively joined, and at times supplanted, by Roma coming from the region of the ex-Yugoslavia and from other Eastern European countries. We note the Caminanti Siciliani (Sicilian Travelling people). This is a semi-nomadic group centred in Sicily. Although they consider themselves as an independent group, it seems that their origin come from the Roms, with an iendependent development. In southern Italy there is also a group of Rom 'Abruzzesi', who arrived perhaps by sea from the Balkans. Their long residence in that area shows a pattern analogous to that of the Gitanos in Spain. The Zingari Abruzzesi, a Rom group are traditionally a travelling group, although in recent times some families became sedentary. Their travels throughout Italy have traditionally occurred in Abruzzo, the egion rom which comes their name. Here we have an image dated 1970 showing two women and a girl. Women and girls wear more commonly traditional costumes. Bare feet was a common element especially among children and women. In the dialect of Abruzzo region 'to make the Gypsy' means 'to go barefoot'.

Numbers

Italy has a relatively small Gypsy population, despite the fact that it is one of Europe's most populace countries. There are some 150,000 Gypsys in Italy, but more than half are recent arrivals, primarily from the former Yugoslavia.

Historical Background

There is some historical information on the arrival of Gypsies in Italy. There is a document from a Venitian court ordering to a group of people to leave the city (1283). It could be the first evidence of Gypsies in Italy, but we cannot be sure about that. It seems a bit early for Gypsies in Europe. It is not impossible, however, we know there were Gypsies in the Byzantine Empire and they could have come to Italy by sea. Another source affirms the presence of Gypsies in Abruzzo (1390). We have substantiated evidence of a group of Gypsies who came from Germany (1423). They arrived in Bolonia and Rome. [Italian Encyclopedy Treccani]. We have a repreentation of Gypsies (1660). It is in a santuary near Varese (the Sacro Monte - Holy Mountain) where there is a great representation with statues of the crucifixion. In the scene there is also a group of Gypsies. That is due to a popular legend. According this legend the Romans wanted crucify Jesus with four nails, but a Gypsy stole one of them. So Jesus was crucified with three nails. The statues are by Dionigi Bussola (1615–1687). We are not sure why so few Gypsies came to Italy until recent years. We suspect it had something to do with the Papacy which in the medival era and until Italian unification (1860s) controlled Rome and much of central Italy. There were persecution of Gypsies in Italy for centuries.

Fascism (1923-45)

This reached a terrible level during the Fascist era. Even before World War II persecutin increased. This was because of border provincs acuited from Austria as part of the World War I peace settlemnt (Venezia Giulia and Venezia Tridentina). Austria Hungary had a much larger Gypsy population than Italy. This meant that many Gypsies suddenly became Italian. There was a significant presence of Rom and Sinti communities in both provinces. The Fascists as a result identified these Gypsies as both ‘undesirable foreigners’ and ‘dangerous Italians’. This provided a dual rationale for placing them in police confinement and interning them when Italy entered World War II (June 1940).

Gypsy Groups

There are traditiinally two main ethnic groups of Italian Gypsies: the "Sinti" and the "Rom". In northern Italy, the Sinti were the primary Gypsy group. In the last 30 years it has been progressively joined, and at times supplanted, by Roma coming from the region of the ex-Yugoslavia, and from other Eastern European countries. We note the Caminanti Siciliani (Sicilian Travelling people). This is a semi-nomadic group centred in Sicily. Although they consider themselves as an independent group, it seems that their origin come from the Roms, with an iendependent development. In southern Italy there is also a group of Rom "Abruzzesi", who arrived perhaps by sea from the Balkans. Their long residence in that area shows a pattern analogous to that of the Gitanos in Spain. the Zingari Abruzzesi, a Rom group. They are traditionally a travelling group, although in recent times some families became sedentary. Their travels throughout Italy have traditionally a special reference to the region Abruzzo from which come their name. Here we have an image dated 1970 showing two women and a girl (figure 1). Women and girls wear more commonly traditional costumes. Bare feet was a common element especially among children and women. In the dialect of Abruzzo region 'to make the Gypsy' means 'to go barefoot'.

Sources

Italian Encyclopedy Treccani.

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Created: 11:46 AM 6/18/2018
Last updated: 3:41 AM 6/19/2018