Museum of Science and Industry

Manchester's Italian Whit Walk began in 1890 and in recent years around 2000 people have attended the walk. It is one of the last remaining and oldest Whit Walks in the country, and the oldest surviving Whit Walk in Manchester. The current statue of the Madonna, which is hand-painted, has been used in the procession for over 70 years and was recently restored by MOSI. It was imported from Italy by members of the Italian community, who were based in Ancoats, East Manchester.

Ancoats: Manchester's Little Italy is currently showing at the Museum's Community Exhibitions Gallery, in association with the Manchester Italian Association. The exhibition shows how Ancoats became a centre for Italian migration from the mid-nineteenth century, and includes many historic photos and several original objects, such as the Madonna, an ice cream cart and a hydrometer.

Lorraine Taurasi, president of the Manchester Italian Association said: "The Italian Whit Walk is one of the oldest surviving processions in the country and a fantastic celebration of Italian culture in Manchester. Our procession is in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is why the Madonna heads up the Whit Walk, and we're proud to be able to continue to walk with her through the city centre. She was brought over from Italy in 1937 with money collected by the Italian community, and until recently, was stored in St Michael's Church in Ancoats."

Susie Elliott, exhibition coordinator said: "The Madonna is the showpiece of our exhibition on Manchester's Italian community in Ancoats and she has attracted considerable interest from our visitors. The Whit Walk is a great opportunity to experience some of the traditional roots that the Italian community in Manchester came from, and a great day out. Our exhibition continues until August, so do come along to the Museum if you'd like to find out more about Manchester's Little Italy."

Italians first started settling in Ancoats, just North of Manchester city centre, from the mid-1800s due to economic problems in Italy. The area soon adopted the nickname of 'Manchester's Little Italy'. Ancoats became famous for Italian specialities including production of ice cream, barrel pianos, mosaic and terrazzo tiling, and manufacture of scientific instruments.

In the 1960s Ancoats began to suffer the consequences of declining industry, and the community was relocated by Manchester City Council to other parts of the city. However the Manchester Italian Association continues to support the thriving Italian community in Manchester, and organises the Whit Walk.

The Manchester Italian Whit Walk is on Sunday 29 June 2008, leaving St. Michael's Church in Ancoats at 1.30pm to Albert Square, and back. Manchester Italian Association exists entirely from donations. For more information please look up www.ancoatslittleitaly.com or call Sarah Withington on 07968 132 145

For more details contact Sarah Roe, Press and Publicity Officer on 0161 606 0176 or alternatively visit the Community Exhibition at MOSI, Station Building Platform.

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