Italian Village: How To Find Your Ancestral Home Town – p 2

Every now and then, you may encounter an Italian village that is now a ghost town. People may have left for a variety of reasons, such as natural disasters, economic decline, or military conflicts. These towns present crumbling buildings, overgrown vegetation, and a sense of eerie emptiness. Many of these ghost towns are popular tourist attractions, as tourists want to experience the unique atmosphere and history of the area. Some of these towns became empty centuries ago. Others just recently, maybe in the last few decades. Regardless of their age, these ghost towns offer a unique glimpse into Italy’s past and are a reminder of the fragility of life.

Historical Background

You will notice that some Communes ceased to exist centuries ago, while others just recently. The earliest change affected the Comune di Rovezzano, on the outskirts of Florence. On August 13, 1865, it became part of the city of Firenze and is now simply a residential area.

Another change occurred with the comune of Pellegrino, also in the province of Firenze. The French who were ruling Tuscany at the time created it in 1808. However, it did not survive the Unification of Italy of 1861.

In another case, two villages were combined and renamed. In essence, the dictator Benito Mussolini supported the creation of the Comune of Albanova, to combat organized crime in the area of Caserta, back in 1928. Eighteen years later, once the experiment was ruled unsuccessful, the two previous Comuni were back on the map, as if nothing had happened.

Italian Village List

If you are having trouble finding your ancestral town, please resort to this list of Old Italian Villages and see if you can find its name here. Otherwise, ask for a free quote to research this matter more in-depth, just for you!