Brasilia. The “National Day of Italian Migrants” was celebrated throughout Brazil. The recurrence – as stated on the website of the Italian Embassy in Brazil – was officially established under Law no. 11.687 of 2 June 2008, signed by the then Vice President of the Republic, José de Alencar to pay homage to the Italians who emigrated to Brazil and who contributed to the development of the country’s history. The choice of the February 21st date is a tribute to the expedition of Pietro Tabacchi in the State of Espírito Santo in 1874. It was an event that historically marked the beginning of the mass immigration of Italians to Brazil. On that day in 1874, 386 migrants from Trentino and Veneto landed in Brazil from the ship La Sofia, departed from Genoa on January 3rd, 1874, upon the invitation of Tabacchi. Tabacchi had been living in Brazil since 1850 and was the owner of a fazenda in the municipality of Santa Cruz (the current Aracruz) called “Nova Trento”, as a tribute to his native land. (9Colonne)
