Italian Argentines

Italian Argentines are Argentine citizens of Italian descent or Italian-born people who reside in Argentina. Italy has been the source of the largest waves of immigration to Argentina, and Italian Argentines form one of the largest ethnic groups in the country.

History

The first wave of Italian immigration to Argentina took place in the 19th century, during the period of mass European immigration to the Americas. This was a result of economic hardships in Italy, as well as the opportunity for a better life in Argentina. The immigrants were primarily from the regions of Lombardy, Veneto, and Sicily, and they settled mainly in the cities of Buenos Aires, Rosario, and Córdoba.

Culture

Italian Argentines have significantly influenced Argentine culture, particularly in the areas of food, language, and music. The Italian language has had a significant impact on the Argentine Spanish, with many Italian words and phrases incorporated into the local dialect. Italian cuisine has also had a profound influence on Argentine food, with dishes such as pizza, pasta, and gelato becoming staples of the Argentine diet.

Notable Italian Argentines

There are many notable Italian Argentines in various fields. In politics, several Argentine presidents, including Carlos Menem, Néstor Kirchner, and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, have Italian ancestry. In sports, footballers such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi have Italian roots. In the arts, Italian Argentines have made significant contributions, with figures such as writer Jorge Luis Borges and actress Elsa Daniel.

See also

• Immigration to Argentina
• Italian diaspora
• Italian Argentine cuisine