Italians in Paraguay

The War of the Triple Alliance (1865–70) was the bloodiest in Latin American history. The war was a disaster for Paraguay, which lost two-thirds of all its adult males. Paraguay's population fell from about 600,000 to about 250,000. For the next 50 years, Paraguay stagnated economically. The male population was replaced by an influx of immigrants from Italy, Spain, Germany, and Argentina. The census of 1899 showed a population of about 630,000 of whom nearly 100,000 were Indians. The foreign population in 1895 numbered 5000 Argentines, 3500 Italians, 1500 Spaniards, 1250 Germans, 800 French, 600 Brazilians, and 1000 Swiss, Austrians, English, and other nationalities.

The Italians were a relatively huge community of nearly 6000 persons at the beginning of the 20th century, concentrated in the capital and the areas around it. This group of immigrants, largely made up of workers, architects, engineers and less by professionals in other fields, exercised great influence, especially on growth and urban development in Asunción and in the maintenance of the Paraguayan rail system. They created even small cities, like "Nuova Italia".[3]

One of the most famous in the early 20th century was Silvio Pettirossi (June 16, 1887 – October 17, 1916), who was a Paraguayan airplane pilot and aviation pioneer. In December 1914 he founded the Aeroclub de Paraguay and was named its president. Actually Asunción's Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, three soccer clubs, the "Airborne Brigade of the Paraguayan Air Force", a Paraguayan Air Force Base in Luque, an avenue in Asunción and the "Paraguayan Institute of Aviation History" are named after him.

Indeed some Presidents of Paraguay are Italo-paraguayans: José Patricio Guggiari; Andrés Rodríguez Pedotti (1988 - 1993), Juan Carlos Wasmosy Monti (1993 - 1998) and Luis Ángel González Macchi (1999-2003). Even some misses of Paraguay are descendants of Italians, like Fiorella Migliore.

According to prof. Fernando Constantini, 40% of the Paraguayans are descendants (in some blood percentage) from the Italian immigrants: the Italians were 15% of the male population in Paraguay in 1875, after the devastating Chaco war,[4] and now they are fully assimilated because of the many mixed marriages.

In 2012 there were 8,502 Italian citizens residents in Paraguay, according to the "Ministero degli Interni" of Rome.[5]

Cirillo Antonio Rivarola, the 4th president of Paraguay

• Oberdan Sallustro, Entrepreneur who was kidnapped and assassinated by the Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo (1915-1972)

• José Patricio Guggiari, President of Paraguay (1928-1932)

• Andrea Pedotti, President of Paraguay (1988-1993)

• Juan W. Conti, President of Paraguay (1993-1998)

• Luis Gonzalez Macchi, President of Paraguay (1999-2003)

• Cirilo Antonio Rivarola, provisional President & President of Paraguay (1870-1871)

• Gabriel Casaccia, novelist considered the father of modern Paraguayan literature

• José Bozzano, military engineer and minister of economy

• Giacomo Bertoni, botanist and writer

• Fiorella Migliore, Miss "Italia nel Mondo" 2008

• Gladys Carmagnola, poet and writer

• Víctor Pecci, tennis player

• Silvio Pettirossi, aviation pioneer

• Attila Sallustro, soccer champion

• Cayetano Ré, soccer champion

• Guido Boggiani, writer and explorer

• Maneco Galeano, musician

• Ignacio Alberto Pane, writer and journalist

A group belonging to the Italian community in Paraguay gathered outside the National Pantheon of the Heroes of Asunción.

The number of Italian immigrants in Paraguay was by far the highlight of foreigners who settled in the country in the early postwar years after 1870. During the Paraguayan War, many Italian immigrants enlisted voluntarily rows of then President Mariscal Francisco Solano López.

In the period between 1882 and 1907, Italians were the largest group, exceeding 27% of total foreign arrivals in Paraguay.

After the unification of Italy in 1860, after Garibaldi's battles, it began the era of the great migrations that lasted until 1914. This yielded a very extensive migratory movement, between the years 1869-1913, more than 14 million Italians left their country.

However, most of the Italian immigrants came mainly from Lombardy (especially from Bergamo) and the rest of northern Italy, comprising individuals who arrived in Paraguay on their own and facing its risks.

This group of immigrants, largely made up of workers, architects, engineers and less by professionals in other fields, exercised great influence, especially on growth and urban development in Asunción and in the maintenance of the Paraguayan rail system.

It is estimated by academics that about 150,000 Paraguayans have direct Italian origin, as descendants of Italians who emigrated to Paraguay mainly from 1870. Meanwhile, Paraguayans with at least one Italian great-grandfather would be around 600,000, although in many cases they are considered "mestizo" Paraguayans.[6]

Italians are now fully integrated into Paraguay society, due to the many marriages between Italians and Paraguay girls (after the massacres in the war of 1870 that left only a few native Paraguay males). The Italian citizens residents in Paraguay in 2012 are 8.502, according to the "Ministero Interni" in Rome. Since 2017 every year is done the "Festa italiana" in the capital of Paraguay, with a huge success of public and commerce merchants.

"Festa Italiana" in Asuncion in 2019:

• Immigration to Paraguay