My Ancestral Italy

04/01/2026

31/12/2025

We would like to thank you for your trust and support in 2025. Your loyalty and faith in our services mean the world to us, and we're thrilled to have had the chance to help you uncover more about your Italian heritage.

Wishing you a year filled with exciting discoveries about your Italian ancestry and a deeper understanding of your roots. May 2026 bring you joy, love, and a sense of belonging to your rich cultural heritage!

27/12/2025

Get ready to embark on a fascinating adventure with Bryan's guidebook, Italian Ancestral Journeys, which is now part of the Smashwords 2025 End-of-Year Sale! You still have a few days left to snag this incredible e-book at a discounted price, so don't miss out on this opportunity to explore your Italian heritage.

The sale ends at midnight on 1 January. Only a few days left to save on this e-book or others you may be interested in reading. Find your next favorite book at http://smashwords.com/sale and follow for more promos like this!

23/12/2025

16/12/2025

Earlier this year, Italy began going paperless with all new civil records - births, marriages, and deaths. These records, which date back to 1806, are crucial to us in their current paper form.

Under the direction of the Archivio Nazionale dello Stato Civile (ANSC), all comuni in Italy will be digital by the end of 2026. This ambitious project marks Italy's shift towards online government services.

"It is more than just an IT infrastructure: it is a cultural shift , symbolizing a more modern, faster, more attentive Public Administration, capable of responding effectively to citizens' needs. Through standardization, interoperability, and process simplification , it will be possible to guarantee increasingly efficient and accessible services , improving the relationship between public administrations and citizens."

This quote from ANSC is very true, if it is successful.

10/12/2025

His face and voice are recognized internationally, and he's one of the most iconic actors of our time. Robert De Niro was born in New York City on 17 August 1943, in the midst of World War II. He is the son of Virginia Admiral and Robert De Niro Sr., both of whom were visual artists, and their creative influence can be seen in his impressive body of work. De Niro's father was of Italian and Irish descent, and his mother was of German, French, and Dutch ancestry, making him a true melting pot of European cultures.

His Italian great-grandparents, Giovanni di Niro (born 1864) and Angelina Mercurio (born 1874), immigrated from the picturesque town of Ferrazzano in the province of Campobasso, Molise, Italy, bringing with them their rich heritage and traditions.

Growing up in New York City, De Niro was surrounded by the vibrant arts and culture scene, which likely played a significant role in shaping his future as a renowned actor. With a career spanning over five decades, De Niro has left an indelible mark on the film industry, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of actors and filmmakers alike.

10/12/2025

Italian cuisine was added to UNESCO's 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' lists at a meeting of the UN agency's Intergovernmental Committee in New Delhi on Wednesday.
It is the first time a national cuisine in its entirety, rather than a single tradition or recipe, has won world heritage status.
The committee said that Italian cuisine is a "cultural and social blend of culinary traditions" and "a way to care for oneself and others, express love, and rediscover one's cultural roots, offering communities an outlet to share their history and describe the world around them." ANSA

More than just pasta and pizza - a culture 😋

08/12/2025

My book is part of the Smashwords 2025 End of Year Sale!
50% off the regular $6.99 price for the e-book. Sale runs from 8 December through the end of the year.

"Italian Ancestral Journeys - A DIY Guide to Visiting Your Ancestors' Towns"
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1700973

Find your next favorite book at http://smashwords.com/sale and follow for more promos like this!

05/12/2025

Festa dell'Immacolata Concezione is a national holiday in Italy, and since it falls on a Monday, it makes for a long weekend.

This traditionally marked the start of the Christmas season, but nowadays, you'll often see Christmas displays and sales starting in November... or even earlier.

26/11/2025

Thanksgiving is not a holiday celebrated here in Italy, but many Italians are curious about the traditions of this day. In fact, they often ask us about the significance of the turkey, the pumpkin pie, and the family gatherings that come with it.

We'll be sharing our traditions with some Italian friends, introducing them to the delicious food, the festive atmosphere, and the sense of gratitude that comes with this special day. We hope you have a great holiday, surrounded by loved ones, and that you get to enjoy all the fixings that come with it! 🦃

19/11/2025

Besides doing genealogy research, we have had the opportunity to help many of our clients visit their ancestral towns in southern Italy. From these experiences and speaking engagements, that Bryan has done with various groups, a book has evolved that we hope will help others experience their own Italian Ancestral Journey.

https://books2read.com/italianancestraljourneys

12/11/2025

When researching with original Italian records, you can frequently find valuable information that can lead you to the exact addresses of your ancestors. This is a treasure trove of information to have when visiting your ancestral town, as it allows you to walk in the footsteps of your ancestors and see the exact location where they lived, worked, and raised their families. However, be aware that the house numbers can change over time, and it's not uncommon to see houses with multiple numbers as the sequencing has changed over the years.

Additionally, it's essential to keep in mind that street names can also undergo changes - for instance, there were no Via Garibaldi in Italy prior to the 1860's, as many streets were renamed to honor notable figures or events.