This is the story of Mark Manganiello aka Marketiello, a Canadian with Neapolitan origins.
His father was from Cimitile, a neighboring agricultural town next to Nola in the Campania region. He immigrated to Canada with his family when he was only four years old. During the adolescence he went to study in Italy where he met the woman who soon became his wife. They married in Canada, where, consistently with the Neapolitan tradition that celebrates the family, they gave birth to 9 children, including Mark, who is the second youngest.
M.M.: “My childhood was never a dull moment in our family!“
Mark was born in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, in Ontario. He describes Ottawa as a peaceful city surrounded by a beautiful green scenery. However he is currently living in Montreal, Quebec. According to him Montreal has so much to offer along with its rich cultural history. He describes it as a very unique location with a strong European feeling. Indeed Montreal is one of the overseas cities occupied by many immigrants, especially from Southern Italy. Mark pictures this amazing city as a multi cultural mosaic.
M.M.: “I always enjoy exploring this urban jungle!“
He first visited Napoli in 2007. That Summer was a very special time for him as he also experienced his cultural heritage.
M.M.: “I met my big warm welcoming Neapolitan family for the first time in 2007. Then I went back again in 2016 for a Summer course in Sulmona, (in Abruzzo), to complete my university degree and spent quite some time with Family and friends in Napoli. I will definitely be making the effort to go visit more often with my wife and future kids now that I have experienced the beauty of Napoli and Italy as well“.
Mark loves everything about his land of origins. He is linguistically and culturally fascinated by the city of Napoli and enchanted by the urban history of Neapolitan people.
M.M.: “The Napoletani people are such friendly and warm hearted people. They welcome you like their own family. I love to envision the city of Napoli and the region like an open air museum in all its forms. Everything is so magical that you feel like you’re in a dream and only realize after you leave where you stood- in the marvelous shadows of Mount Vesuvio. Napoli è sempre nel mio cuore! (Napoli is always in my heart!)”
Even though his family has lived abroad for two generations, he has always kept Neapolitan traditions, customs and habits alive.He is also able to make a real pizza in the fire oven!
M.M.: “I have always listened to Italian music, especially many classic and modern Neapolitan songs, playing around the house. This is how I am able to keep up with the latest Neapolitan pop culture and at the same time practice/ learn more about the language. We try to make the effort and make the Sunday tomato (Ragù) sauce. Growing up I have fond memories smelling the beautiful aromas seeping from the kitchen walls around the house. Also, I remember and celebrate the feast day’s of La Festa Dei Gigli (Lilies’Feast), San Felice (Patron Saint of Cimitle), and San Gennaro with a sfogliatelle and some cannoli every year.I also love to pick tomatoes every year at the farm and make homemade tomato sauce and wine every year with my wife and her grandparents to keep the tradition alive. This brings me to my roots, of my own mother’s childhood and grandparents on their farm, back in Cimitile.“
Mark is an enthusiast and a very passionate guy. He has a Bachelor of Arts and Minor History and has various interests such as urban geography, history, maps, art. Above all, he is an avid Napoli soccer fan.
A few months ago he wrote an article about CAM, a Napoli soccer team museum in Nola. If you haven’t read it yet, you can find it at
https://napulitanamente.com/in-nola-there-is-cam-a-napoli-soccer-team-museum/.
This is another reason why, even if he was born in 1995 we have tried to ask him about Diego Armando Maradona a champion who Mark deeply respects as a soccer player as well as a man.
M.M.: “Maradona is so special because he gave the Neapolitans a sense of pride and joy through hard times. He made them forget about the reality of poverty, regional racism and everyday life. He made the city significant by winning trophies with his time at the club. He was not just an icon on the field but a people’s man off the field. He will always be remembered.“
To read more about Mark and what he loves of our lands follow his blog on Instagram @i_love_campania
