For generations, families left Santarcangelo, Italy and settled in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, especially in the city’s North End. Even today, many of the same family names can be found in both places—a reminder that the two communities have been linked for decades through shared history, culture, and identity.
In 2019, that connection took on new life. About fifty Portsmouth residents—many of them descendants of Santarcangelo immigrants—gathered at City Hall to speak live with people in Santarcangelo. The moment was simple but powerful: stories were shared, names were recognized, and a sense of belonging crossed the ocean. That same year, the two cities officially signed a Friendship City agreement, recognizing a bond that had already existed for generations.
Since then, the relationship has continued to grow in meaningful ways.
What started as a grassroots connection has become a broader collaboration involving schools, local governments, and cultural institutions. A recent visit in April 2026 from a delegation from Santarcangelo, including Mayor Filippo Sacchetti, marked another important step, showing how strongly both communities support this partnership today.
At the heart of it all is education. Exchanges between students and teachers have helped bring the relationship to life. In 2025, students from Santarcangelo spent time in Portsmouth, staying with host families, attending classes, and experiencing everyday life in New Hampshire.
The partnership has also expanded into the arts. Through the work of the Cineteca di Bologna, films from the Cinema Ritrovato series have been shared at the University of New Hampshire.
Today, Santarcangelo and Portsmouth are connected not just by the past, but by an ongoing exchange of ideas, experiences, and people. It is a living bridge between Italy and the United States, built on community, sustained through education, and focused on the future.