78 – Atina – Feast Day of San Marco Galileo

On the 1st October we decided to take a trip to Atina, which is about an hour’s drive from us at “Tre Cancelle”.   This was the Feast Day of Atina’s Patron Saint, San Marco Galileo. 

Saint Mark was a disciple of Saint Peter the apostle and whilst on his way to Rome Saint Peter is said to have ordained him as the first Bishop of Atina in 45 AD.  San Marco was martyred in approximately 96 AD and a church was built on the site of his burial.   

His statue resides in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and his feast day is celebrated in Atina each year with a formal religious procession,  brass band concerts are held in the square in front of the cathedral and the celebrations culminate in a grand firework display. For the occasion, at night the town is beautiful illuminated with impressive displays of fairy lights.

There is also a procession on San Marco’s official feast day which falls on the 28^th April.

For more photos of this feast day click here

Visit our Website about

Atina, the Val di Comino and Ciociaria

http://atina.shapcott-family.com

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77 – A Day Of Strange Coincidences

Recently on fine sunny days, we have been getting out and about discovering new towns in the vicinity, doing some local research and taking photos for my new website about South Lazio.  One day we visited the town of Castelforte for the very first time.

When we arrived the town was sleepy as it was still after lunch siesta time.  Feeling thirsty we found a little bar to find some liquid refreshments.  We chose to sit outside in the fresh air, and suddenly an English voice said: “So we are not the only English people here in Castelforte?”

We introduced ourselves and began chatting to the couple at the next table, and a friendly Italian chap called Antonio who spoke some English having worked for several years in London. 

It seemed that Dominic and Jill were on a short holiday in Rome and during their stay they had decided on the spur of the moment to do a day trip down to Castelforte, by taking the train and then catching a local bus.   Dominic’s Italian side of the family had originated, many years ago, from this charming little hilltop town. 

I explained that my maternal ancestors were also Italian, originating from Atina, near Montecassino, and that they had settled in the Clerkenwell district of London.  Dominic , who is a London cabbie, went on to say that his family had also settled in London and mainly lived in the St Pancras area. 

 He had been brought up by his Italian aunts, and knew the area well.  He was curious to know where exactly my grandparents had lived. 

My Nonno and Nonna lived in what once was known as Little Saffron Hill, now renamed Herbal Hill, which is just around the corner from St Peter’s Italian Church.  We talked about all the nearby streets, such as Farringdon Road, Ray Street, Back Hill, Grays Inn Road.

Dominic immediately rang his elderly Italian aunt “Mala” to tell them about our encounter.  Apparently she is  aged 92, but is still bright as button, and actually lives with Dominic and Jill. 

 I then went on to  explain that my mother, Tina, had passed away a couple of years ago, aged 85, and that she had lived much of her life in London’s Italian community.  She would have so enjoyed meeting people who had come from “Little Italy” and talking about the old times.  I mentioned that a very good old friend of my mother still lived nearby, near the Mount Pleasant sorting office, named Rita. Dominic went on to say that he knew a Rita, who was the best friend of  aunt “Mala”.  It turned out that we were talking about the very same Rita !!! 

I still try to keep in regular contact with Rita, as she so enjoys reading our stories about our new life in Italy – she keeps telling me to write a book !!!  

Rita had been my mother’s life-long friend, and  during WWII  they had both shared the misfortune of contracting tuberculosis.  After the war they took a couple of holidays  in Switzerland to aid their convalescence. 

My Mum Tina and Rita

 

Indeed Rita and her sister Delia had been my mother’s bridesmaids at her wedding in 1955, which was held at St Peter’s Italian Church. 

Bridesmaids: Rita, Delia and Nita

Dominic felt he just had to phone his aunt again to tell her about  this remarkable coincidence.  By this time “Mala” had already phoned Rita to let her know about our amazing encounter in Castelforte.   

He asked his aunt if she remembered my mother,  a Concetta (Tina) Leonardi, and she said that indeed she had known her well, mainly through the Italian church .  It was quite amazing !!!

We chatted for a long time, and I asked the Italian gentleman Tony, who was still seated beside us, what his job had been during his 11 year period working in London.  He said he had been a Porter in some hotels near Russell Square.  This immediately sounded familiar to me, as my late father had worked for 42 years as a plumber for a small independent  hotel chain located in this  area.

Not really believing that this day of coincidences could continue in the same vane, I asked: “It wasn’t Imperial London Hotels, was it?”  “Yes it was !!!” he replied, “Why?”.  I explained, and from just the name he couldn’t recall my father Hugh (Hughie), but I promised we would go back to Castelforte before too long with some photos of my Dad, which might help jog Tony’s memory.

Tony very kindly offered to act as a tour guide and show us around the historic quarter of Castelforte, so whilst Tony went off, arm in arm with two camera laden ladies, Dominic and Paul remained steadfast at the bar, drinking beer and trying to get their heads around this unusual day of coincidental encounters. 

Tony and Jill

When the girls returned we happily gave Dominic and Jill a lift back to the station, so we could enjoy their company for a little longer, saving them the bus ride back to Formia to catch their train back to Rome for the last night of their stay in Italy.  We very much hope we can keep in contact with then and of course Tony.

Jill has sent me a recent photo of Rita and “Mala”, which would have been lovely, but the flash seems to have been too bright so their faces look rather ghost-like.  I hope to get a better photo soon.

 

 

"Mala" and Rita

 

 

Sending both Rita and “Mala” all our love !!!

Click here to find out more about Castelforte on our South Lazio Website

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76 – Tracing Our Italian Family Roots

Over the past couple of years we have had the pleasure of meeting a number of visitors who have come to this area of Italy to try and trace their Italian ancestry, some with relatives who came from the Val di Comino area. 

My own maternal grandparents originated from the beautiful mountain community of Atina, Frosinone, overlooking the River Melfa and the Meta and Mainarde mountains. 

In Italy, in the latter half of the 1800’s and during the early 1900’s, times were very hard, many people toiled in miserable conditions and experienced severe hardship and poverty due to poor wages and food shortages.  Thus my grandfather Benedetto felt restless, as many Italian families departed for distant lands: to America, France, Belgium, Scotland, and England. His elder brother and sister had already moved to live in London, and Benedetto, longing for adventure was also enticed by the prospect of emigration to a new land of opportunity.

Thus in the Summer of 1911 my Italian grandparents first set foot on English soil, and made their way to the city of London, to the district of Clerkenwell, the Italian quarter know as “Little Italy”.  They rented a dilapidated house close to St Peter’s Italian Church, which was to be their home for many years to come.  Here my mother was born and she was brought up in the Italian community.  My grandmother Maria Grazia always pined for her home town of Atina and never managed to learn to speak English.  

I was born nearby in the heart of London, “within the sound of Bow Bells”, so I suppose I could be considered to be an “Italian Cockney”.  I have always had a true passion for Italy and all things Italian, and felt a real need to see for myself “the land of my forefathers”, visit Atina and walk in the footsteps of my grandparents.  

15 years ago my husband and I spent a memorable fortnight staying with some of my Italian cousins, in Atina. It was our first meeting but we were so warmly welcomed and received into the family fold and Atina transpired to be even more charming than I could ever have imagined.  

Thus began our irresistible love affair with “La Bella Italia”, and of course the very special town of Atina, which finally inspired us to risk everything, sell up lock, stock and barrel and entirely transform our lifestyle by moving to Italy. 

Since then we have got to know several people who have family who originated from the Atina area, and since the creation of my Atina / Val di Comino website we have received many enquiries from people with ancestors from  this beautiful area and share my passion for it.

Aldo De Angelis and his wife June from Scotland are tracing his family roots in Atina and Belmonte Castello – family surnames: De Angelis, Delicata, Ianetta, Notarangelo.

Whilst in Atina recently we asked at the Comune and at the local library whether there was a list of the graves in Atina Cemetery, but nobody there seemed to know.   The main cemetery is located near the ruined church of San Marco and  the church of San Pietro.

So, Paul and I have spent many hours browsing around and looking for the graves of my relatives.  Some of the graves have some wonderful statues.

 

If anyone wants us to go and look for graves of  family members who have passed away, and who may have been laid to rest in Atina Cemetery, we are happy to go and look for them whilst we are visiting our family in the area.

Common surnames of Atina include: 

Amata / Amato, Bastianelli,  Bove, Caira, Coppola, Di Angelis, De Luca   Delicata, Di Duca, Di Paolo, Fortunata, Mancini, Marini, Nardelli, Rossi, Sabatini, Tamburrini, Tortolani, Visocchi , Volante.

Yes we are sad family history “anoraks” !!! 

Sadly we got addicted years ago, and there’s little hope for us now. 

We already belong to the Guild of One Name Studies and are carrying out a “one name study” of the surname Shapcott and its variant spellings.

Also I have  been considering making an application for my Italian citizenship through what is known as  “jure sanguine”.

As both of my grandparents were both born and married in Atina,  and they did not became naturalised British citizens during their life-time I should be entitled to Italian citizenship.  Amongst the documentation required to obtain this is my grandparents’ marriage certificate and their birth certificates.  

I know that they were both born in Atina and even have details of their parents and grandparents, as I have seen their families listed on the “Stato di Famiglia” held by the Comune of  Atina.  So recently we visited the townhall to ask for copies of the above certificates.  Sadly, the staff there were not exactly welcoming and accommodating.  They said they would take the information and that we would have to come back another day.  I recently heard from my cousin in Atina that the Comune had failed to find the requested documents, so I am somewhat down-hearted. 

But … I will persevere !!!  

This is Italy !!!  Nothing is simple, especially regarding bureaucracy.  I have tried to organise an opportunity to look through some of Atina’s church registers, but to no avail, it seems that they are guarded with a rod of iron by the Parish Priest. 

As yet Italians just don’t seem to “get” family history, indeed it is far from the popular pass-time in the UK where within County Halls and libraries there are departments dedicated to giving the public access to the Saint Catherine’s Index of Births, Deaths and Marriages, numerous Censuses, Church Registers, old newspapers etc. etc.  

Italians still fail to realise how important it is for people to be able trace one’s family roots and learn so much about local social and cultural history.  If you ask Italians about their ancestors, they sometimes get quite nervous and seem guarded, perhaps suspicious that some stranger may be after some money or trying to claim back some old derelict house of piece of family land !!!  There are so many family disputes regarding ownership of land in Italy.

Anyway, I will keep you posted on our progress with my goal of obtaining my Italian Citizenship.

Anyone with ancestors from the Atina / Val di Comino area –

We’d love to hear from you !!!

Do feel free to Contact Us

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75 – Rosana and Ivano’s Wedding in Itri

Last weekend was Rosana and Ivano’s Wedding.  Rosanna is the daughter of our good friend Florisa and Franco.  The ceremony was to be held at the 16^th century Church of Santa Maria di Loreto, which is situated on a small hill on the outskirts of Itri, annexed to the ex convent of the Cappuccini brothers. It is now a monastery of the order of Passionate Priests.

* photo by roevin

Diversifying from the topic of the wedding just for one moment – Did you know how the frothy cup of Italian coffee got its name?  It was because the light brown and cream of a cup of cappuccino matched that of the robes of the Cappuccini monks.

This was our first visit to this church so I ventured inside to take some photos.  The church had been beautifully decorated with flowers.

 

 We all gathered outside the church waiting for the bride to make her appearance. 

A very proud Franco lead his daughter up the steps of the church and up the aisle.

As the couple emerged from the church, the family and guests showered the pair with rice and confetti as a symbol of love and prosperity.

 

 

Before heading to the extravaganza of the wedding reception the newly-weds were driven off to the old medieval quarter of Itri  to have some scenic / romantic wedding photos taken. 

Over 200 guests were invited to the lavish reception held at Villa Paola in the nearby town Fondi, which went on well into the evening. 

Florisa had loving hand-made the pretty bomboniere or wedding favours herself crocheting over 200 little bags, which were then decorated with miniature flowers and ribbons.

She had also decorated their home, as the wedding celebrations went on for several days.

Che′ Bella !!! 

All photos except *  by me – NonnaLou !!!

 

* photo  by roevin  

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74 – The Italian Wedding

Most Italian weddings are incredibly lavish affairs, where there is absolutely no expense spared.  It is a matter of cutting a “Bella Figura” and “keeping up with the Jones’s” so to speak, but is nonetheless a true labour of love. Normally a civil service takes place at the local Comune (Town Hall), rather similar to a Register Office ceremony in the UK.  Here there is brief official service, in which the bride and groom declare that they are free to marry, and they then exchange of rings.  Therefore in the eyes of the State the couple are now legally married, however in the eyes of the Catholic Church the union is not still not official until it is properly blessed in church. 

* photo by apdk

 Often the couple who are to tie the knot, may have been fidanzati (unofficially engaged) for a long period of time, possibly even from their teenage years. In Italy there are strong family values, and things cannot be rushed, and must be done in the right order.  Also traditionally, especially in the south, the family have to set the couple up by providing them with their own living accommodation (often an apartment within the family home) and fully kit it out for them.  So the bride-to-be and groom have to be somewhat patient !!!  In the old days the bride’s family would be responsible for providing a “bottom drawer” with sufficient embroidered linens to last their lifetime.

Traditionally at each side of the church main door two small olive trees were placed as a symbol of good luck. During the church ceremony Mass is said, vows and rings once more exchanged and the union of the happy couple is blessed by the priest.

** photo by Giovanni dall’orto

 

There follows the all day wedding reception - a mamouth banquet of copious courses which seems to go on forever. 

 

Wedding favors, known as bomboniere in Italian, are handed out to guests as a traditional keepsake in the appreciation of their attendance of the wedding day. These are usually pretty little fabric bags decorated with flowers and ribbons, which contain the confetti, five sugared almonds to symbolise: love; fidelity; longevity; fertility and happiness. These sweets are also said to signify the bitter and sweet times that may occur within a marriage.

In addition, often the sposi, the bride and groom, present gifts to their guests such a small china figurine, a decorative piece of porcelein, perhaps a crystal vase or even a silver photo frame or spoon.

After the wedding the couple drive off in a car decorated with flowers and ribbons.

 So you can begin to comprehend why Italian parents have to start saving as soon as each child is born !!! 

One of our friends from Caserta has three daughters to marry off –

so he has really got his work cut out !!!

* photo by apdk

 

** photo by giovanni dall’orto

 

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73 – Autumn Already !!!

Well here in Italy Autumn has arrived, indeed during September we had a week of particularly unseasonal bad weather, with violent thunderstorms and heavy rain, however now things seems to have settled down.  The days are still pleasantly warm, although the nights are drawing in. 

Looking back we have had a really great summer, We have had the great pleasure of now having so many lovely friends, so many cosmopolitan explorers, from Sweden, Denmark, Poland, France, Germany, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England and the USA, all of which now love this beautiful area of South Lazio.

 

Once again the dogs proved a big hit,

especially with the younger generation

and the “Woof-Gang” loved being the centre of attention !!!

 

 

 

But when the “Woof-Gang’s” friends had to go home …..

 Such sad faces !!!

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72 – Keep Taking The Pills

A quick up-date on Paul’s health.  Slow Progress I’m afraid !!!

*

Following a check-up with the Cardiologist during August, and a second one last week, it seems that despite taking the Warfarin anticoagulant tablets for several months now, Paul’s blood has still not yet reached the right level of liquidity for him to be able to undergo the Cardioversion treatment, to hopefully get his heart back into regular sinus rhythm.  The treatment can only be given, once the blood’s clotting factor or INR reaches over 2, and 5 consecutive weekly blood tests give the same reading.  So it looks as if it could possibly wait until November to have the Cardioversion.

So understandably Paul is feeling somewhat frustrated, having really hoped that by September he would have had the Cardioversion treatment and would be feeling better by now. 

 He is getting really tired of feeling tired !!! 

He finds it difficult to do anything slightly energetic, and the jobs that require doing are beginning to pile up.  Particularly gathering up all the wood that was left after the olive pruners cut back a large section of the olive trees back in June.  We need the wood to keep us warm in the wintertime, as we would rather use our wood-burning stove than gas, and save a whole lot of money.  Now that the weather is pleasantly cooler, we will just have to try to do it a little at a time, or “piano piano” as the Italians say.

* photo by blmurch 

 

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71 – Atina – 2009 Gran Premio Dell’Arco Go Kart Race

Having enjoyed it so much last year, on the first Sunday of August we eagerly returned to Atina to watch the Gran Premio Dell’Arco, the Go Kart racing competition.  This year we took lots of photos of the event.

Just like last year, the designs of the carts were many and varied, the common theme being all “wheels” are made from “Ball Bearing Races” kindly donated by the manufacturer SKF of nearby Cassino.

Whilst not fully up to pace with all the design regulations, its seems carts can have three or four bearings  and these can be either large or small, or indeed a combination of both.  For months in advance the carts are lovingly crafted and tinkered with in the cellars and garages around the town, it has to be said some a little more seriously than others.

photo by ben woods

There are three driver age groups, the youngest driver age band being the Teenagers, then the 18 to 50 year olds, and finally the Seniors or over 50’s. Time trials are carried out throughout the morning of the event.  Each driver gets a lone run which is meticulously timed and determines their actual starting position on the grid.  Then  in the afternoon, after a good plate of pasta of course, the main races follow !!!

This year in addition to the normal fixed point cameras along the course, the events were recorded by an “eye in the sky” in the form of a helicopter camera man, and the event was recorded by a local radio station c.A.c. A c.a.S.

The course runs for a length of approximately 2.5 kilometres, starting from the main archway at the entrance of the old Centro Storico in Atina Superiore, and winds its way down to Atina Inferiore / Ponte Melfa on the valley floor below. 

3 members of our family were to take part:  Cousin Mario and his two sons Giuseppe and Simone.

Simone Massa

Each race began with the sound system playing a loud rousing fan-fare to fully set the scene.  The  commentator then began the final countdown, and soon the competitors went careering off down the hill, fronted by a squad of motor bikes noisily beeping their horns.  In the square a large TV screen had been set up for the spectators to watch the rest of the race on the long winding road down to the finishing line.

 

Finally the ceremonial presentations of the trophies to the victors are held in the early evening. This year was more special for our family because we had a podium finish. Cousin Mario achieved second place in the over 50’s section, setting the standard for next year for his two sons to endeavour to supersede. 

Bravo Mario !!!

 

Also this year was special because in the middle category there was a lady driver on the podium for the first time ever.

Click here to see more of NonnaLou’s photos of the 2009 Go Kart Race

 Click here to read about the 2008 Go Kart Race  

Click here to see a Video of the 2009 events

Click here to see my Atina, Val di Comino, Ciociaria website

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70 – Nostri Nipotini

During July we really enjoyed our two grandsons’ visit to “Tre Cancelle”,

accompanied by their Mum Vicki and her partner Alex. 

Jamie and Tommy are both very bright sparks and growing up so fast, and have done very well this year at school.

They always enjoy their trips to Italy and are picking up a little of the Italian language.  They came laden with lots of doggie treats for the “Woof-Gang”. 

The boys particularly enjoyed :

Several trips to the wonderful sandy beaches

Tucking in to the local cuisine

Hunting in rock pools for crabs and octupus

Playing in the Park in Itri

 

The slides and swimming pool at Itri Aquapark

And best of all ……….

Sampling all the ice-creams !!!

 

Positively Scrumptious !!!

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxx  We miss you !!!  xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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