Italians in Paraguay

Italian Paraguayans

italo-paraguaiani
Silvio Pettirossi José Bozzano Víctor Pecci Gabriel Casaccia
Total population
(30% of the total Paraguayan population is of full or partial Italian descent.)
Regions with significant populations
Asunción
Languages
Spanish, Italian, Guarani
Religion
Christianity (mostly Roman Catholic)
Related ethnic groups
Italians, Italian Argentines, Italian Brazilians, other Paraguayan people of European descent.

Italian Paraguayans are one of the most prominent ethnic minorities in Paraguay, consisting mainly of Italian residents who migrated to Paraguay or Paraguayan-born citizens of Italian descent. Italian immigration to Paraguay has been one of the largest migration flows this South American country has received. Italians in Paraguay are the second-largest immigrant group in the country after the Spaniards.

Migration history

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.

See also

• Immigration to Paraguay