One thing I did not fully realize about the Calabria was the wide variation in the landscape. Yes, on a map you can see that it is situated between two seas with a mountain range running up the center of the region. And yes, if you google certain locations, you get some idea of howContinueContinue reading “Discovering Calabria: Part Two”
Tag Archives: Italy
Discovering Calabria
Calabria. Birthplace of my great-grandmother (bisnonna), and many many generations of her ancestors. It stretches from the heel of the boot (Puglia) to the toe, the most southern part of mainland Italy, and is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the east. Through experiences made possible by MadeContinueContinue reading “Discovering Calabria”
Museo Faggiano: One Family’s Archaeological Museum
This past Monday, my daughter and I drove to Lecce, which surprised us by its size. Why Lecce? I was first interested in the ancient Roman below-ground amphitheater that graces the center of the old city. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we discovered the entire area was under construction and sealed off due to paving workContinueContinue reading “Museo Faggiano: One Family’s Archaeological Museum”
Valle d’Itria
A day in the southern Italian Valle d’Itria. We drove south thinking we would stop first in Martina Franca. I don’t know why it was so crowded and busy, perhaps because it was Sunday and all the locals were coming and going to church, but we could not find a spot to park so weContinueContinue reading “Valle d’Itria”
Puglia!
Centro Formaggi A travel day. Left windy Firenze – first a bus to the train station, then a train to Pisa. Loved looking at the countryside. Then we took the Pisamover to the airport, where we boarded Ryan Air (yes, my checked bag was under weight!) to Bari. It was POURING rain when we landed;ContinueContinue reading “Puglia!”
The Other Half I Shall Keep
Did you ever come across a document or an artifact that changed you in some way? Surprised, delighted, or elicited strong emotions? This happened to me last year when I traveled to Bologna to visit my daughter who was studying there. No matter where I travel, I visit libraries and archives and do research ifContinueContinue reading “The Other Half I Shall Keep”
Travel. Research. Learn.
Historical research is akin to traveling. In fact, one might say that when you research history of any kind, you ARE making a journey. Back in time, to another place or set of circumstances. During the past year, I have been fortunate to travel, both nationally and internationally. As a historian and archivist, I alwaysContinueContinue reading “Travel. Research. Learn.”
Mapping Your Ancestors
Washington Place Plantation, East Feliciana, Louisiana, ca 1822 I LOVE maps. Not GPS or GIS, but maps printed on paper, and the older the better. Atlases, survey maps, geographical maps, plat maps, navigational charts, subdivision plats, and sometimes even topographical maps. Each type of map shows different data that can be helpful in your familyContinueContinue reading “Mapping Your Ancestors”
What’s in a Name?
Today, especially in the U.S., parents are giving their babies more unusual, uncommon, and creative names. But not too long ago, family names were the norm – first names passed down from generation to generation, maternal surnames used as middle names, and more. In genealogical research, these “old-fashioned” naming patterns help us to determine familyContinueContinue reading “What’s in a Name?”
More than just names: vital records in Italy
Civil registration records are an invaluable resource in searching for your Italian roots. They contain a wealth of information, depending on the type of record and the time period in which the event occurred. Italy’s civil records today are a result of a standardized registration system introduced in 1806, after the annexation of many ItalianContinueContinue reading “More than just names: vital records in Italy”
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