Director of Valvona & Crolla, Mary Contini

I am a Scot. I am a Scots-Italian. But essentially I am a Scot.

My father was born in Italy, 85 years ago, in a tiny village high in the mountains between Rome and Naples. Like thousands of others from the late 18th century to the early 1920s his father joined the wave of opportunists who left their homeland in search of a better way of life.

Choosing to stay

They left behind poverty, hardship and uncertainty. They travelled by foot, by cart or by train. No direct flights whizzed them in and out of countries choosing the best place to settle. Perhaps they were heading for America. The ships from Greenock took thousands of them from the Scottish shores heading for the American dream that awaited them in New York. My grandfather and many of his relations choose to stay here. Here in Scotland, here in Edinburgh.

A good welcome

What was it that made them make that monumental decision to stay? Why did so many Italian families set up home and bring their families up in Scotland?

We asked them as children. They told us the truth. They were made to feel welcome, they felt safe and they realised that they could work hard and succeed and become part of the society. They were quickly accepted in their new homes. There were excellent education opportunities for their children who could then have the choice to go back to their homeland. In fact few went back.

A good place

Today I too have the choice to live anywhere I would like in the world. Opportunities to work in America, in Europe…even in Italy would easily present themselves. But I do not even consider leaving. Scotland is a good place to be.

My children in Edinburgh have excellent educational opportunities. If they are ill we have an excellent health service. The city is secure and safe and has a feel of a small town. At the same time it has fabulous yearly festivals and events, a growing population of new immigrants and is the centre of government in Scotland.

Good fortune

The summers are long and light…though wet I admit. The winters are dark and cosy and really not too cold. The city is beautiful…stunning in fact and as you drive east the views along the Forth in the evening make any stress fall away and a feeling of good fortune settle.

My grandfather chose Edinburgh. He chose well. I’ll stick with that.

Mary Contini
Valvona and Crolla, founded in 1934, is Scotland's oldest Delicatessen and Italian Wine Merchant and one of Europe's original Specialist Food Shops.