A community who ditched beautiful Italy to come to Nottingham have been describing their European way of life in a city suburb where people make their own salami in their gardens, and sell traditional ice cream in a van. Tucked away in the heart of Bakersfield, an array of neat houses have beautiful flowers outside.
Also affectionately known locally as Nottingham's 'little Italy', this part of Bakersfield is quiet and where the second generation of Italian immigrants go about their lives while keeping their traditions alive. Most of them live in Oakdale Road, or its nearby streets.
The most popular location among Italians in the city is the shop Navarra, where people can have a taste of traditional, authentic pasta and other products brought from their homeland. Rocco Loscalzo was around five years old when he came to Nottingham.
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He is now a dad of two girls, and is 63 years old. He said: "My dad was the first one to move here, for work, in 1961. And then me, my brother, my sister and my mum came here with him."
Mr Loscalzo is originally from Accettura, a town covered by forests and pastures in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. He added: "My mum used to make her own salami. I grew up eating Italian traditional food.
"My dad was an ice cream man. He was selling traditional ice cream in a van - that is why our garage door is so tall. My uncle was also selling ice cream. They had different areas that they would cover.
"Many people from my town moved here. It was basically like a whole Italian village moved to Nottingham, living on the same street. The older generation died, and the younger ones moved away. But some of us stayed in Nottingham's little Italy."
When Nottinghamshire Live visited the area on Friday evening (July 1), Mr Loscalzo's family gathered at his parent's house which was on the same road as his. It was his dad who bought the house when they moved to Nottingham.
Two Roman-style pillars frame the front door of their home. Unfortunately, his dad passed away and his mum, now 84 years old, lives in his childhood home.
Mr Loscalzo added: "My dad had these pillars built when we got this house. I never forget about my roots, and where I am from. I have lived here all my life but I am still Italian at heart. I still go to Italy on holidays.
"In the South of Italy it is quite difficult. My parents and most people came here for work. I do not think I will ever move back because, I just got used to this place. My children go to school here, they have their friends here. We have our own life here."
While most Italians came here for a better life, Carmelina Piccirralla's immigration story is different. "I came here to visit my uncle on a holiday, and I stayed because I fell in love. I could not go back," she said.
The 74-year-old moved to Oakdale Road in 1972. She added: "I found the love of my life here. The first year was very difficult because I was struggling with the language. It was tough.
"But now I love it, and could not go back. I miss my family and friends sometimes, and, deep down, I still miss Italy." She said that once learning English she began to love the country. "English people and Italians have something in common. We all like to party," she continued.
"We used to go to an Italian club in Nottingham but that closed 20 years ago. Now we go to church, and that is how we still meet other Italians and stay connected. I feel more English now than I used to. I still cook Italian food for my children and grand-children. They love it. There are not many of us in Bakersfield now. But we all know each other, we all help each other - it is like the little Italy."
She remembered the moment when Italy beat England in the Euro 2020 final last summer, and how neighbours celebrated the historic moment in the street. "I screamed for Italy from my heart," she said while reminiscing about the night that ended England's bid to end a 55-year wait to win a major trophy. Mrs Piccirralla added: "I will be Italian until the end of my days. I am very proud of my origins."
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