I am going to Albisola, south of Genoa, in April to search for records on my ancestors. I have tried to communicate with their City Hall, but have had no reply. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get started? What office would be helpful to visit upon arrival? Please help!
Posted by
Toledo
653 posts
Martie, I did a similar search many years ago. Your first step should be to contact the Italian Consulate nearest Brownsville, to make communications easier. They may also be able to do a preliminary search for vital statistics, if you know the names of family members. Ancestry.com is also a good source. I hope this helps. Also, once you get there, check out local museums - I found my family name in an exhibit at the museum at Paestum, going back to the 2nd century BCE - now I'm trying to fill in a 1700-year gap! Don't give up!
Posted by
San Carlos, CA, USA
392 posts
Martie, it doesn't surprise me that they did not reply to your request. Just head for the "Comune" (City Hall.) That's where any records of your ancestors will be. Do you speak Italian? Even if you don't chances are someone there will speak some English. It might be helpful if you have a sheet with typewritten names of any of your ancestors that you know of and exactly where they were born (names of little villages.) Also dates of births or deaths. Kind of a little family tree if you can. I have relatives in Genoa that I visit every few years so I have not had to go on a "search" for them. However, several years ago I went with my American cousin to search for her ancestors in Piemonte. It was so cool going into the Comune and having them take out a big old dusty book and finding her father's birth record! We took pictures of the page in the book. From there we got other names and went to other little towns to look up any records. In one town there were no records because they had all been destroyed in WWII. But it was fun to go on this search. Take pictures of any little towns this leads you to. Even if you don't find anybody you will at least have memories of where your relatives came from. Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.
Posted by
OP
Brownsville, Texas
32 posts
Kathy, I can picture myself doing exactly what you described! Many thanks and yes, I will follow your advice. I have names and dates, so that should help. My Italian is broken, but I speak fluent Spanish, so that should help. Is Paestum worth a visit?? It isn't on my self-created itinerary, but can certainly adjust it. Many, many thanks.
Martie
Posted by
Toledo
653 posts
Paestum is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in Greek temples (one of the best collections of temples in Italy); there is also a beach. The town is south of Naples, so I don't know if you are planning on going that far.
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
If you don't have any luck at the Albisola city hall, try the local church. You may be able to find records of baptisms & marriages from long ago.