TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
In an interview published October 29, 2026, U.S. Consul General in Florence Joe Tordella discussed his first months in the role and the relationship between the United States and Tuscany. He said the consulate is open and described its priorities, while emphasizing longstanding connections through residents, businesses, universities and cultural ties.
U.S. Consul General Joe Tordella said the consulate in Florence is open and described its work and priorities in an interview published by The Florentine on October 29. Speaking during his first months in the role, Tordella also discussed the longstanding U.S.-Tuscany relationship, his Italian-American family history and his early experiences in Florence.
Tordella said he took up the post in August 2026 and has been assigned to Florence for three years. Asked about concerns raised the previous year over a possible consulate closure, he said the office was “open for business” and busier than when that question first arose. He also pointed to his diplomatic commission, which he said was signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
He described the consulate’s first priority as serving and protecting American citizens. Tordella put the number of U.S. citizens permanently living in the consular district at around 80,000. The district covers Tuscany and other areas, though the published excerpt does not provide its complete geographic description or the full list of priorities he outlined.
On the broader relationship, Tordella cited more than 400 U.S. companies in the district, as well as universities, research centers and movement between the United States and Italy by students, travelers and families. He said the region’s ties with the United States are already well established, making the task less about starting a relationship than expanding one. These figures and characterizations were given by Tordella in the interview.
The Consulate’s Role in Tuscany
The interview offers a statement from the new consul general about the future and focus of the Florence office after questions about a possible closure. Tordella’s assurance that it remains open is relevant to U.S. residents who may rely on consular assistance, as well as organizations and businesses working across the region. His remarks describe the office’s status as he presented it; they do not provide independent documentation about staffing, budgets or long-term plans.
The district’s reported population of roughly 80,000 permanent U.S. residents helps explain why consular services are a central part of the assignment. Tordella also framed the relationship in wider terms, pointing to commercial, academic and cultural connections. Those links can involve practical exchanges, including research partnerships, study and travel, alongside the consulate’s services for citizens.
Products Worth Considering
Traeger Woodridge Pro Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, 970 sq. in., WiFIRE
Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, 5.5 qt, Deep Teal
Cuisinart ICE-70P1 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker with Countdown Timer
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Tordella’s First Months in Florence
Tordella’s appointment follows a diplomatic career that he said has included postings in Bolivia, Barbados, Israel, Libya, Moldova, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia and Saudi Arabia. He previously served as deputy chief of mission in La Paz. Before joining the Foreign Service, he worked in the private sector for IBM and Booz Allen Hamilton, after studying in London.
He told The Florentine that his family left Catanzaro for the United States about a century ago. Raised in New Jersey, he said Italian traditions and family stories shaped his upbringing. He described returning to Italy as a U.S. representative as a personal connection as well as a diplomatic assignment.
In Florence, Tordella said he had visited Villa Bardini, Palazzo Strozzi and Palazzo Medici Riccardi, and attended a performance by Jim Belushi at Teatro Niccolini. He also visited the Florence American Cemetery, where the interview states that 4,392 U.S. service members killed in World War II are buried and the names of 1,409 missing service members appear on the Tablets of the Missing. The article also connects the relationship to the legacy of the 1966 flood, though the supplied interview excerpt offers no further detail on that subject.
“The U.S. Consulate General in Florence is open for business and, if anything, we are busier today than when we first started answering this question.”
— Joe Tordella, U.S. Consul General in Florence, speaking to The Florentine
Details Beyond the Interview
The interview provides Tordella’s account of the consulate’s status and priorities, but the available material does not include a separate State Department statement about the earlier closure concerns. It also does not specify the office’s budget, staffing levels, service changes or any formal review of its future. The reported figure of around 80,000 U.S. residents is not accompanied by a date or methodology in the excerpt.
Tordella referred to three priorities, but the supplied text gives details only about the first: serving and protecting U.S. citizens. The remaining priorities, and any specific programs or targets for his three-year assignment, are not stated in the material available here. His comments about the 1966 flood likewise are not elaborated in the excerpt.
The Consulate’s Work Ahead
Tordella said he expects to serve in Florence for three years and that his team is focused on its stated priorities. The interview does not announce a new initiative, timetable or policy change. The next developments to watch are how the consulate describes its services and priorities in fuller detail, and whether the office or the State Department provides additional information about its operations.
For now, the clearest update is Tordella’s assurance that the Florence consulate remains open, alongside his description of the work it carries out for U.S. citizens and the wider regional relationship. Further details would be needed to assess how that work may change during his tenure.
Key Questions
Who is Joe Tordella?
Joe Tordella is the U.S. Consul General in Florence. He took up the post in August 2026, according to his interview with The Florentine.
Is the U.S. Consulate General in Florence closing?
Tordella said the consulate is open for business. The interview does not include a separate State Department statement or details about any formal review of the office.
What did Tordella say the consulate’s priorities are?
He said the team has three priorities but the available interview excerpt identifies only one: serving and protecting American citizens. The other two are not specified in the supplied material.
How many U.S. citizens live in the consular district?
Tordella estimated that around 80,000 U.S. citizens permanently reside in the district. The interview excerpt does not give a date or method for that estimate.
What is Tordella’s connection to Italy?
He said his family left Catanzaro for the United States about 100 years ago. Raised in New Jersey, he grew up with Italian family traditions and stories, and described his diplomatic posting in Italy as a personal return as well as a professional role.
Source: theflorentine.net
