Despite some Italian/U.S. tension due to President Trump’s import tariffs, Pacentro welcomed Mike Pompeo with open arms. The Secretary of State visited L'Aquila, a small village perched in Majella National Park that’s home to just 1,140 people. Pompeo's great-grandparents (Paolo Pompeo and Gemma Pacella) emigrated to America from here in the early 1900s. The visit was planned as the perfect conclusion to Pompeo's institutional trip to Rome, where he met our Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte. As a matter of fact, locals informed us that the C.I.A. did an inspection tour last week to ensure maximum security for Pompeo’s visit.
Pompeo's origins
Who would have thought that pop star Madonna and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would have anything in common? But they do. Both are of Italian origin — from Abruzzo, in particular — and have relatives in Pacentro. The difference? The Queen of Pop promised to visit Pacentro to meet her great-grandmother’s sister Bambina during her Turin concert in 1987, but she never did. Pompeo, on the other hand, did honor his ancestry with a nostalgic mini-tour, from the local war memorial to his great-grandfather’s former house, where the current owner, Vincenzo De Capite Mancini, offered him a glass of his own house-made Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Pacentro (ph. IG @secpompeo)
Welcome home
Humble and friendly, Pompeo was welcomed by Marco Marsilio, President of the Abruzzo Region, and Guido Angelilli, Mayor of Pacentro. The Secretary of State received a copy of his great-grandfather's birth certificate and Pompeo's family tree as a gift, while his wife was given a colorful bouquet of flowers. Pompeo complimented the local administration for having pulled off such a complicated official visit without a hitch. Among the curious townspeople awaiting him were Violetta and Eufrasia Pompeo. The nonagenarians, distant relatives of Pompeo, were eager to greet their American relative.
"As a proud son of Abruzzo, I’m honored to visit my ancestors’ birthplace and to meet the wonderful people of Pacentro. More than 18 million Americans share Italian roots, and they continue to contribute to the story of American Greatness", Sec. Pompeo wrote on his Instagram profile.
Eat like an Abruzzese
After enjoying the beauty of the picturesque village, Pompeo and his wife had lunch at the Taverna de li Caldora, where George Clooney often dined while filming The American. The restaurant is located in the 16th-century Palazzo Pitassi right in the center of the medieval village of Pacentro. Unfortunately, the inclement weather ruled out lunch on the terrace, so the couple took a seat in the private room, but not before admiring the view of the beautiful valley. Lunch included many of Abruzzo's gastronomic specialties, including sagne ricce con guanciale e ricotta di pecora for him, pappardelle with porcini mushrooms and arrosticini for her. For dessert, they shared the traditional pizza dolce. In the end, Pompeo paid by credit card, and he left a 20€ tip on a 54€ bill.
The Pacentro magic spell
Once again, Pacentro has been featured in national and international news reports. This place must have something magical because it never fails to conquer the hearts of both well-traveled celebrities and ordinary people alike. Some, like Robert Pardi, have even left the United States to settle in Pacentro. Pardi came on holiday to follow his great-grandfathers' footsteps and never left. He bought a house and now organizes tours for Italian and foreign travelers both in Rome and in Pacentro. Food-minded travelers can even take regional cooking lessons in the same restaurant where the Pompeos had lunch - isn't that cool?