San Francisco, October 1, 2025 — The Consul General of Italy, Massimo Carnelos, along with Deputy Consul General Davide Corriero and the staff of the Consulate General in San Francisco were deeply honored by the generosity and hospitality of Mayor Daniel Lurie and the San Francisco Office of Protocol during a ceremonial raising of the Italian flag in front of City Hall, officially inaugurating Italian Heritage Month.
In a series of poignant speeches, Mayor Daniel Lurie paid tribute to his predecessor, Mayor Joseph Alioto, and to early Italian-American pioneers and industrialists such as Amadeo Peter Giannini and Domenico Ghirardelli. Chief Penny Coulter celebrated iconic cultural figures like Joe DiMaggio and Francis Ford Coppola, while Assemblymember Catherine Stefani honored the vibrant Italian-American community, highlighting both her personal heritage and her legislative commitment to the prosperity of compatriots throughout the Bay Area.
Consul General Carnelos expressed his appreciation to the Mayor’s Office, the Office of Protocol, the Assemblymembers, and the Board of Supervisors for their ongoing recognition and support of Italian traditions and heritage. He also optimistically anticipated the extraordinary momentum of Italian innovation across the Bay Area, propelled by institutions such as the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub – INNOVIT. He also announced the Italian Parliament’s declaration of October 4th as a national holiday in honor of Italy’s Patron Saint, San Francis of Assisi, after whom the city of San Francisco is named.
The ceremony continued with a stunning performance by the string choir of La Scuola International and powerful renditions of the Italian and American national anthems of Maria Fassio Pignati, accompanied by Ron Borelli. The event concluded with a festive aperitivo, gathering members of the diplomatic and political corps and friends of the Italian Consulate General. The reception was generously provided by Richard Armanino of ItalFoods, Francesco Covucci of North Beach Restaurant, and Bill Isetta of Capo Isetta Winery.
With heartfelt gratitude and enthusiasm, Consul General Carnelos and his staff look forward to a month of vibrant celebrations honoring Italian culture and heritage across the Bay Area, culminating in San Francisco’s longest-running civic event, the Italian Heritage Parade on October 12.
