Carlentini, Italy
Carlentini, a hillside town in eastern Sicily with a population of around 17,000, shares a special connection with Omaha. This bond began in the late 1800s when many Carlentini families immigrated to Omaha to work on the Union Pacific Railroad. These ties have grown stronger over generations, culminating in the official Sister City designation between Omaha and Carlentini in July 2024.
Click below for more information about Carlentini.
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HISTORY
Carlentini was founded in 1551 by King Carlo V to protect the coast from Arab invasions,
Sicily has been inhabited since the Paleolithic and Mesolithic. It had been part of Greece, and then it was invaded and ruled by many different conquerors, such as Romans, Arabs, Normans, Swabians, Spanish and French. Those populations, of course, brought to the island their arts, science, culture and architecture.
The ancestral connection between Carlentini and Omaha is deeply embedded in the genetic disposition of the people. The Sicilian people are generous, expressive, faith-filled, family oriented and loyal. In turn, these attributes have also shaped Omaha’s culture. The colonization of ‘Little Italy’ is an important example of Carlentini’s historic impact on Omaha’s economy and culture. Two brothers: Joseph and Sebastiano Salerno are credited with creating a network of labor for the Union Pacific Railroad in the early 1900’s. Sebastiano took a job with a steamship company-recruiting people from Carlentini to Omaha for work. Omaha’s economic growth flourished due to the progress and hard work of the Carlentini immigrants. Italian businesses including shoe shops, clothing stores, restaurants and food markets began to develop in the immediate area and further west. Omaha wouldn’t have prospered or developed without the Carlentini immigrant population
POPULATION
17,900
LOCATION
Carlentini is a village located in the province of Syracuse, Sicily.
Sicily is the largest Italian region, a “little continent” rich in art, culture, archaeology, history (a list of 14 Unesco World Heritage Sites), breathtaking landscapes, (4 Regional Parks, 77 Nature Reserves and 3 volcanoes), crystal clear waters, quiet medieval towns, refined cuisine, great wines, important literary traditions, myths and legends.
Sicily is a safe and exclusive destination just a few hours by plane from anywhere in Europe. Thanks to its beauty, heritage and mild climate, it attracts several millions of annual tourists from all over the world.
For more detailed information, click here: Carlentini
DID YOU KNOW?
A Carlentini Migrant, J Portera, who settled in Omaha and was Patton’s interpreter during the liberation of Sicily.
Carl Vinciquerra was on the 1936 US Olympic boxing team with Joe Louis.
According to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame website, Joe Scarpello, whose family is from Carlentini and settled here in Omaha, was a 4-time All-American wrestler at Iowa with a 51-5 record, including undefeated freshman and senior seasons.
Pat Venditte, whose family settled in Omaha from Carlentini, was the only “full-time” switch pitcher in Major League Baseball history!
St. Philomena, now St. Frances Cabrini, in Little Italy was the First Cathedral in Omaha.
More than normal amount of businesses that started in Omaha by Immigrants from Carlentini, when they first arrived, compared to other ethnic groups during that time. An important fact is the great number of first generation Migrants from Carlentini who served in World War II.
