The story of the Bracchi – when the Italians arrived in Wales

**surge** · 13-07-21, 09:13

https://nation.cymru/culture/the-sto...ived-in-wales/

One of the positives (very small 'p') of Wales going out of a tournament is that we have the opportunity to learn more about Wales' ties to other nations. The links to Ukraine were fascinating and perhaps less well known but this article is talking about the Italians in Wales/Italian Welsh.

Guess the most famous examples related to Cardiff City are Gio's pizza, Paul Abbandonato, Andrea Ferratti and Federico Macheda. Any more Cardiff Italians that I've missed?

**SLUDGE FACTORY** · 13-07-21, 09:16

Originally Posted by surge

https://nation.cymru/culture/the-sto...ived-in-wales/

One of the positives (very small 'p') of Wales going out of a tournament is that we have the opportunity to learn more about Wales' ties to other nations. The links to Ukraine were fascinating and perhaps less well known but this article is talking about the Italians in Wales/Italian Welsh.

Guess the most famous examples related to Cardiff City are Gio's pizza, Paul Abbandonato, Andrea Ferratti and Federico Macheda. Any more Cardiff Italians that I've missed?

Not exactly cardiff but victor spinetti , the founder of the berni inns steakhouse, the sidoli family in Porthcawl.......hard core ccfc fans .....Mario Basini that journalist bloke

**SLUDGE FACTORY** · 13-07-21, 09:22

Hes not very famous and he's dead now but my old school teacher Mr bertorelli and his family who owned a shop in Bridgend

And Pucellas , the barbers , by the bus station

**The Hooded Claw** · 13-07-21, 09:28

All those great Italian cafés in the valleys which seem to be a dying breed. My favourite was Baccetta’s in Porth.

The BBC did a really interesting piece on it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-51448889

Also, does anyone remember Merlin Motors on City Road. Owned by a Mr Merlini, who my Dad went to college with on Western Avenue and I went to school with his son Craig in Cowbridge who later managed the PA Black estate agents.

**splott parker** · 13-07-21, 09:35

Just in my class in St Albans the Italian names were Chiarello, Senatore, Sammino, Scotto-Dabrusco, Guidici, Frederico, quite a strong Italian community in Splott.

**KevDeri** · 13-07-21, 10:52

Thirty minutes at work have just flown by. Both articles mention Ricci's Square Cafe in Bargoed. My parents first met there in the 50s and always used to take us for ice-cream. Also a Rossi's cafe (or two?) in Bargoed and I was at school with Cresci's. Molte bene.

**BLUETIT** · 13-07-21, 11:31

Originally Posted by splott parker

Just in my class in St Albans the Italian names were Chiarello, Senatore, Sammino, Scotto-Dabrusco, Guidici, Frederico, quite a strong Italian community in Splott.

You’re forgetting Georgio Chinaglia at Lady Marys

**splott parker** · 13-07-21, 12:24

Originally Posted by BLUETIT

You’re forgetting Georgio Chinaglia at Lady Marys

I did say my class in St Albans, how dare you put me in the same age bracket as that gangster

**binman** · 13-07-21, 10:47

Any more Cardiff Italians that I've missed?[/QUOTE]

Yes me and Don Corleone who posts on here

Our grandfather came over here in 1927 and opened a cafe in the valleys which carried on with my father and uncle until 1995

**life on mars** · 13-07-21, 11:00

Not forgetting Cardiff North own Giuseppe Henry "Pino" Palladino, Pizzeria Villaggio still owned and run by the family .

**cardiff55** · 13-07-21, 11:30

Originally Posted by surge

https://nation.cymru/culture/the-sto...ived-in-wales/

One of the positives (very small 'p') of Wales going out of a tournament is that we have the opportunity to learn more about Wales' ties to other nations. The links to Ukraine were fascinating and perhaps less well known but this article is talking about the Italians in Wales/Italian Welsh.

Guess the most famous examples related to Cardiff City are Gio's pizza, Paul Abbandonato, Andrea Ferratti and Federico Macheda. Any more Cardiff Italians that I've missed?

That great Italian footballer Giorgio Chinaglia, started in Cardiff, played for Swansea. Then went home to Italy and became an International for them. Some dubious dealings after that though if you read Wikipedia.

**life on mars** · 13-07-21, 14:24

Originally Posted by cardiff55

That great Italian footballer Giorgio Chinaglia, started in Cardiff, played for Swansea. Then went home to Italy and became an International for them. Some dubious dealings after that though if you read Wikipedia.

Did the corruption start at St Albans School though ?

**Tuerto** · 13-07-21, 14:41

Joe Calzaghe

**Baloo** · 13-07-21, 15:47

There's of course Marco's and Zeraschi family down Barry Island, some of whom are Bluebirds: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/busine...sland-15104232.

**Tuerto** · 13-07-21, 16:37

Originally Posted by Baloo

There's of course Marco's and Zeraschi family down Barry Island, some of whom are Bluebirds: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/busine...sland-15104232.

That Gio bloke is a bluebird, especially when we are in an FA cup final, or League Cup final etc.

**splott parker** · 13-07-21, 18:47

Originally Posted by life on mars

Did the corruption start at St Albans School though ?

I think Giorgio was a St Peter’s scholar prior to Lady Mary.

**cityhammer** · 13-07-21, 13:34

Originally Posted by cardiff55

That great Italian footballer Giorgio Chinaglia, started in Cardiff, played for Swansea. Then went home to Italy and became an International for them. Some dubious dealings after that though if you read Wikipedia.

didn’t he refuse to let Pele have the 10 shirt at Cosmos preferring to wear it himself?

**Baloo** · 13-07-21, 14:41

The fella featured in "Yma o Hyd" Magnus Maximus was a Roman, but Spanish I believe. Back when it all began.

**Armitage Shanks** · 13-07-21, 17:51

Andrea ferretti. Our recent famous Italian footballer

**J R Hartley** · 13-07-21, 17:53

Loads of Italian families in Merthyr. Most of the Brachhis have closed now. Viazzinis Station Cafe is still going.

**Jordi Culé** · 13-07-21, 18:37

Originally Posted by J R Hartley

Loads of Italian families in Merthyr. Most of the Brachhis have closed now. Viazzinis Station Cafe is still going.

Chiappa sisters from Merthyr as was Mario Basini the journalist.

Both cafe backgrounds I think?

**J R Hartley** · 13-07-21, 22:16

Originally Posted by Jordi Culé

Chiappa sisters from Merthyr as was Mario Basini the journalist.

Both cafe backgrounds I think?

Think they are belonging to the Station Cafe lot. Sure I seen it one of her programmes. Their father sells coffee now.

Romano Provini is my favourite Merthyr Italian

**Jordi Culé** · 14-07-21, 07:09

Originally Posted by J R Hartley

Think they are belonging to the Station Cafe lot. Sure I seen it one of her programmes. Their father sells coffee now.

Romano Provini is my favourite Merthyr Italian

Lovely lad Rom.

Graziano is the Chiappas dad. Nice bloke too. Big into F1 what I remember, always used to wire me up with far too strong coffeee and Orange biscottis.

**the other bob wilson** · 13-07-21, 18:44

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48390009

**B. Oddie** · 13-07-21, 19:04

The Tambinis from Port Talbot are big City fans and a very nice family. I wonder if their café is still going in Margam?

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