Seven Hills Forms First Sister-City Partnership With Coreno Ausonio, Italy
On April 16, 2025, the Seven Hills City Council approved the city’s first-ever sister-city partnership with Coreno Ausonio, a picturesque municipality of about 2000 residents nestled in the Province of Frosinone in the Lazio region of Italy, about 75 miles southeast of Rome. This historic agreement aims to foster cultural ties, economic collaboration, and international goodwill between the two communities.
Coreno Ausonio, located at the foot of Monte Maio in the Aurunci Mountains (Monti Aurunci), is renowned for its panoramic views and centuries-old marble quarries. A charming hilltop village that is rich in history and tradition, it now shares a symbolic and meaningful connection with the City of Seven Hills. Coreno Ausonio finds a natural cultural and historical counterpart in Seven Hills, Ohio—a community with its own legacy of stonework, craftsmanship, and industrious spirit.
Seven Hills was once home to two prominent stone quarries, which supplied limestone and sandstone to cities throughout the Northeastern United States, including Cleveland, New York, Chicago, and Boston. These quarries played a pivotal role in shaping the built environment of America’s growing cities—providing materials for everything from grinding stones to architectural masterpieces, such as the Berea Stone Church. One particularly historic landmark in Seven Hills is Mr. Kuenzer’s Quarry, which holds the distinction of being the first quarry in the United States to use a machine for stone cutting in 1899—a milestone in American industrial history, adding another layer of industrial heritage that resonates with Coreno Ausonio's own reputation for craftsmanship and resource-based economy. These parallel histories of quarrying and artisan production create a natural foundation for civic exchange and cultural appreciation between the two communities that offer exciting opportunities for the beginning of future cultural programs, and business initiatives that will benefit both cities, deepening global perspectives and local pride. Seven Hills and Coreno Ausonio: A Sister-City bond built on stone, heritage, and shared traditions.
This connection carries personal significance for Mayor Anthony Biasiotta, whose paternal family traces its roots directly to Coreno Ausonio—a place where the Biasiotta name is still known today.
“This isn’t just a partnership between cities—it’s a reconnection of histories, families, and traditions,” said Mayor Biasiotta. “We’re not just opening a dialogue; we’re reopening a story that began generations ago.”
To formally cement this proposal, an invitation was extended to the Mayor of Coreno Ausonio, Simone Costanzo, which he graciously accepted. Mayor Costanzo will visit the City of Seven Hills in August 2025 for the official joint signing ceremony, marking the establishment of the Sister City partnership between the two communities and their mutual commitment to continued collaboration.
Together, Seven Hills and Coreno Ausonio are set to explore a new chapter, celebrating what makes each community unique, while discovering all they have in common.
Kathy Holland
Kathy Holland
City of Seven Hills