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Italian Colombians (Italian: Italo-colombiano, Spanish: Italo-colombiano) are persons or residents born in Colombia of Italian descent. The term "Italian" may refer to ethnic Italians who immigrated to Colombia from Italy. Most Italian Colombians live in Bogotá, Antioquia Department, Santander Department and other highland cities, where the climate is temperate and similar to that of Italy. Italians have been immigrating to Colombia since at least 15th century.
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During Gran Colombia and Republic of Granada
Very few Italians arrived in Colombia before the riots led by Simón Bolívar, although several hundred monks came from Italy primarily as priests and missionaries were present in the country and have left their mark in many lines of colonial society. Although few, these early Italians were present in almost all higher levels of Colombian society: in 1812 Juan Dionisio Gamba, the son of a merchant Genoa was president of Colombia.
In the mid-nineteenth century, many Italians arrived from South Italy (especially from the province of Salerno, and the areas of Basilicata and Calabria), arrived on the north coast of Colombia: Barranquilla was the first center affected by this mass migration.
One of the first complete maps of Colombia, adopted today with some modifications, was prepared earlier by another Italian, Agustín Codazzi, who arrived in Bogota in 1849. The Colonel Codazzi also proposed the establishment of an agricultural colony of Italians, on model of what was done with the Colonia Tovar in Venezuela, but one factor prevented it.
In 1885 diplomatic relations for some years between Italy and Colombia were interrupted. When a wealthy businessman in the Italian-Colombian Cauca named Ernesto Cerruti- was placed against the oligarchy and the church favoring a liberal party and local mason, Bogota authorities confiscated their property and imprisoned. This has caused a blockade of the port by the Colombian Navy and Italian emigration in Italy was partially closed until 1899.
In November 1887 to commemorate the independence of Cartagena, has been interpreted in Bogota Variety Theatre, a fervent song with lyrics Rafael Núñez which was subsequently adopted by the Law 1920 as Hymn of the Republic of Colombia: his charm and melody It came from someone who had arrived as first tenor in an opera company, the Italian musician Oreste Sindici.
World War II
After the Second World War, Italian emigration to Colombia was directed primarily toward Bogota, Cali and Medellin.
Language
Italian immigrants have integrated easily into Colombian society. Today the vast majority of their descendants speaks only Spanish Colombia, the national language of Colombia. Approximately 24% of the natives still speak (or understand a little) the Italian in 2008.
Music
The Italian influence in Colombia reached also the music, not only with traditional Italian songs but also with the merging with other Colombian music styles.
Food
Italians brought new recipes and types of food to Colombia but also helped in the development of Colombian's cuisine.