Categories: HistoryWorld

Armenian Village of Nor Araks in Italy

In the 1920s in Italy, famous Armenian symbolist poet Hrant Nazarian gathered 150 Armenians, survivors of massacres of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, and founded the village of Nor-Araks (Armenian: “New Araks”) near the city of Bari.

This village exists to this day (photos attached). The city itself is located on the shore of the Adriatic Sea.

A small carpet weaving factory was opened in the village, and the sale of the carpets ensured the existence of the whole community.

The initiative of Hrant Nazarian (on the first photo) was implemented with the assistance and personal protection of Benito Mussolini. The costs of electricity, water, medical service, and medical supplies were taken care of by the government.

In 1938, Mussolini sent Hieromonk Vahan Hovhannisyan from the Congregation of Mkhitarists to Ethiopia with the mandate to open an Armenian school in Addis Ababa.

Vigen Avetisyan

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  • Thank you for posting this info about the NorArax village in Italy! Never knew it exists! Where exactly is it on the Adriatic coast, Closest big town? Thanks!

  • Ohhh, if I only knew this before, because I have even visited Bari without knowing of the Armenian existance there>>> thanks for the information, at least for the future (y)

  • I can't find Nor Araks on Google Maps.
    They could be precise in location.
    Thank you.

    No encuentro Nor Araks en Google Maps.
    Podrían ser precisos en la ubicación.
    Muchas gracias.

  • Please can someone email th eexact adress of NOR ARAX or NOR ARAKS, I can not find it anywhere, thanks

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