This article appeared in the December edition of La Nostra Voce, ISDA’s monthly newspaper that chronicles Italian American news, history, culture and recipes. Subscribe today!
By Joyce Mariani
Nestled in a tree-lined, bucolic space in Rockefeller Park is an architectural gem: Cleveland’s Cultural Monument to Italy honoring cultural greats of Italy in the Arts & Sciences and Arts & Letters. This splendid Renaissance monument is unique in both Ohio and the U.S. and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
At its dedication in 1930, the government of Italy dispatched its royal ambassador from Washington, D.C., who presented a bust of the Roman poet Virgil. Also in attendance were Ohio’s governor, the mayor of Cleveland, and other dignitaries.
Congratulatory telegrams arrived from President Herbert Hoover; the celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini; Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi; Newton D. Baker, U.S. Secretary of War under President Woodrow Wilson; and New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. In August 1934, Papal Delegate Cardinal Egidio Vagnozzi visited the Cultural Monument to Italy.
On October 12, 2025, the garden celebrated its historic 95th anniversary.
This majestic public space was envisioned by three Italian immigrants who journeyed from Sicily to Cleveland, driven by anticipation and a deep desire to share Italy’s rich cultural patrimony with America.
Upon arriving in Cleveland, they diligently built their careers piece by piece, overcoming discrimination at every turn. Philip Garbo became President of the Italian Fresco & Decorating Company, Basilio Ianni rose to prominence as a renowned architect, and businessman Alessandro De Maioribus entered politics and ultimately served as President of Cleveland City Council.
From left to right: Basilio Ianni, the architect of the lower-level amphitheater; Philip Garbo, lead organizer of the project; and Alexander De Maioribus, who led the construction.
In 1930 three acres of public land was given to the Italian community by the city of Cleveland. It was stipulated that the parcel was to be maintained by the Italian Americans in Cleveland. Garbo, Ianni, and De Maioribus spent 11 years building this Late Renaissance-designed Cultural Monument to Italy. It was dedicated “as a symbol of the contribution of Italian culture to American democracy.”
The trio gathered skilled Italian stone carvers and craftsmen and raised the necessary funds to build this beautiful Renaissance outdoor museum honoring Italy’s cultural greats that highlighted the brilliant genius Italy gave the world. In 1941, this new public space celebrated its completion.
The Late Renaissance design has wide walkways and two large Renaissance fountains, one that is modeled after the fountain in Villa Medici in Rome with two sweeping staircases leading down to a lower-level amphitheater and a second large Renaissance fountain
Stonemasons working on the grand staircase.
During the 1930s and 40s this public space was the center of Italian activities in Cleveland. On October 12, 1935, it served as the starting point of the Columbus Day Parade in Cleveland. Since this space was dedicated to share the cultural arts of Italy, the historic “Opera in the Italian Garden” concerts were revived and are presented each year showcasing ballet and opera — both of which began in Italy.
Main Renaissance Fountain modeled after the fountain in the Villa Medici in Rome, Italy.
In 2012, a statue of Dante Alighieri, the father of the modern Italian language and author of the Divine Comedy, was dedicated in the piazza across from Virgil the Roman poet. Recently, images of seven famous Italian cultural figures were carved on large granite medallions circling the Renaissance fountain: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, father of modern science, Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Donatello and Ovidio, the Roman poet.
A statue dedicated to Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy.
In the lower-level amphitheater on the face of a large Renaissance wall fountain are carved images honoring Petrarca, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto, Guglielmo Marconi, and Giuseppe Verdi.
The medallion honoring Galileo, the father of modern science.
Old newspaper microfilm revealed a stunning Pantheon structure honoring 100 famous Italian men and women that was part of the original plan but never completed.
It’s important the original plans for the Pantheon structure envisioned by these men be completed, fulfilling their desire to shine the cultural beacon of Italy’s great accomplishments to the world. It will honor famous Italians from the Romans, down through the Renaissance to present day with an additional 150 famous Italians circling the structure.
The lower-level Renaissance Fountain.
”Buon 95th anniversario!” Cleveland’s Cultural Monument to Italy!
The monument is in the midst of a $1.5 million restoration of which $604,820 has been completed.
Tax-deductible donations for the construction of the Pantheon may be sent to:
Italian Cultural Garden
1284 Som Center Rd. # 316
Cleveland, Ohio 44124
Cleveland’s Cultural Monument to Italy in Rockefeller Park.