“My Italian Origins: Arpino and Isola del Liri, Italy”

I am honored to be the first presenter in a series of programs on the social history of Italy. My maternal grandparents’ ancestral hometowns, Arpino, and Isola del Liri, Italy are Southeast of Rome and Northeast of Naples and part of La Ciociaria. Arpino was founded in the 7th century B.C. and boasts that the Roman orator Cicero, and the Roman general, Gaius Marius, were born there. Isola del Liri was recently featured on a postage stamp as it is the only Italian town with two waterfalls in the historic downtown area. I’ll be using photos and videos, and sharing personal stories about my 10 trips to the area.