A one-way trip
Italian emigration to Brazil has profoundly affected the history of many families, leaving indelible traces in the cities and countryside of the New World. Today, through memory and poetry, we tell the story of Cândido Landri and Maria Raffaela Amorelli, two courageous emigrants who, like so many others, left their homeland in search of a better life.
A house that no longer exists
“Old Chácara
At home it was por aqui… Waves? Procuro-a e não acho.
Here's a voice that sounds like this: That's the voice I'll answer again.
Ah, how much time has passed! (Foram mais de cinquenta anos)
So much so that I rose to death! (And a vida… nos desenganos…)
To wear fez tabua rasa From velha chácara sad:
There is no more at home… — More than one thing exists.”
The house was here… Where? I look for it and can't find it.
I hear a voice I had forgotten: it is the voice of this same stream.
Ah, how much time has passed! (It's been more than fifty years) How many that death has taken away! (And life... in disillusions...)
Greed has erased everything from the sad old farm:
The house no longer exists… — But the child still exists.
These verses by Manuel Bandeira capture the nostalgia of those who search for their roots in places that no longer exist, but live on in their memories. It's the same nostalgia that accompanies the story of Cândido Landri (born Candeloro Luigi Francesco Landri) and his wife Maria Raffaela Amorelli.
The journey and the origins
Cândido, son of Vincenzo Landri and Antonia D'Amore, was born on February 2, 1858, in Corpo di Cava, in the municipality of Cava de' Tirreni, Salerno. Maria Raffaela, daughter of Fedele Amorelli and Rachele Tomei, was born on October 25, 1858, in San Nicola, a hamlet of Centola, in the province of Salerno. The two married in San Nicola on October 14, 1886.
In 1887, they left Italy aboard the steamship Matteo Bruzzo, disembarking in Rio de Janeiro on May 26. After a brief stop in Juiz de Fora, they settled in Alfenas, Minas Gerais, where they built their new life.
A growing family
Their children were born in Alfenas: Vicente (born during the voyage), Maria Angelina (Sinhá), João, Antonia, Maria, and Pedro. Each of them left their mark on the city's history, through commerce, teaching, and public life. The Landri family was known for their dedication to work and integrity.
Their house was surrounded by fruit trees, especially mangoes, and they raised chickens, ducks, and marreche. On the nearby land, they grew bananas, coffee, and peanuts. Cândido, a skilled craftsman, made copper objects and lamps, which he sold with the help of his wife. Some rooms in the house were rented to barbers and tailors, while the family was very close to their neighbors and other Italian emigrants.
A legacy of values and nostalgia
Cândido and Maria Raffaela lived a simple life, yet one filled with dignity and harmony. They loved reading and cultivating friendships, and treated their only servant like family. Their story is that of many Italians who, despite having to leave their homes, have managed to recreate a hearth of love and traditions in a distant land.
Cândido passed away on December 23, 1939, at the age of 81, followed by Raffaela on September 15, 1945, at the age of 87. Today, the house may no longer exist, but Bandeira's "child," the memory and family spirit, live on in the hearts of his descendants and those who listen to these stories of courage and nostalgia.
We sincerely thank Cícero Landri for sharing his family's story!
If you too would like to tell the story of your family and your Italian heritage, you can do so here: https://www.italiani.it/racconta-la-storia-della-tua-famiglia-italiana/
Leave a comment (0)