Casa Italiana, home to the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America at 1151-1161 Amsterdam Avenue, was styled after Italian Reniassance palaces by William Kendall of McKim, Mead & White in 1926-27. It was restored in 1993 based on the designs of Italian architect Italo Rota of Paris and Milan and Samuel E. White of Buttrick, White & Burtis of New York.
The building contains a small library and a fine collection of Italian art and furniture. The second floor, with a mezzanine, contains an auditorium, the most striking part of which is the ceiling, executed in elaborate gold fresco. A panel on the south side of the building bears an inscription from Dante that translates "May it be a light between the intellect and the truth."
Founded in 1991 on the basis of an agreement between the Republic of Italy and Columbia University, the Academy promotes advanced research in all areas relating to Italian history and society. In addition, it seeks to establish a high level of academic and cultural exchange between Italy and the US. The Academy offers a Fellowship program to post-doctoral scholars in a wide variety of fields; it promotes interdisciplinary study that includes a special focus on the Arts & Neurosciences. The Academy also offers rich cultural programs, presenting distinguished examples of Italian culture through conferences, state visits, film series, concert series and art exhibitions.
Casa Italiana was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1978.
National Register #82001188 (1982)
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