On September 16, 2008, the Ambassador of Italy, Giovanni Castellaneta, on behalf of the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, conferred upon House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest order of the Italian Republic, the "Cavaliere di Gran Croce." The ceremony, held at Villa Firenze, was attended by numerous members of the Italian-American Congressional Caucus, other Senators and Congressmen, representatives of NIAF, and other dignitaries.

Since 1987, Nancy Pelosi has represented California's Eighth District in the House of Representatives. The Eighth District includes most of the City of San Francisco including Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, and many of the diverse neighborhoods that make San Francisco a vibrant and prosperous community. Overwhelmingly elected by her colleagues in the fall of 2002 as Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi is the first woman in American history to lead a major party in the U.S. Congress.

Before being elected Leader, she served as House Democratic Whip for one year and was responsible for the party's legislative strategy in the House. On January 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Pelosi hails from a strong family tradition of public service. Her father, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr., served as Mayor of Baltimore for 12 years, after representing the city for five terms in Congress. Her brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, also served as Mayor of Baltimore. Ambassador Castellaneta noted that Thomas d'Alessandro had also been recognized by the Republic of Italy with the "Cavaliere di Gran Croce" and remarked that it was a rare occurrence For Italy to bestow two "Cavaliere di GranCroce" on the same family.

Pelosi graduated from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. in 1962. Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi, a native of San Francisco, have five children: Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul and Alexandra, and seven grandchildren.

On September 16, the Ambassador of Italy, Giovanni Castellaneta, on behalf of the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, conferred upon House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest order of the Italian Republic, the "Cavaliere di Gran Croce." The ceremony, held at Villa Firenze, was attended by numerous members of the Italian-American Congressional Caucus, other Senators and Congressmen, representatives of NIAF, and other dignitaries.

(Pictured from top to bottom: Ambassador Castellaneta conferring the title to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Ambassador Castellaneta, House Speaker Pelosi, and Mrs. Castellaneta; Francesco Isgro, Nancy Pelosi.)

Pictured below: Nancy Pelosi at Villa Firenze; Nancy Pelosi, Ambassador Castellaneta, Pino Cicala)