Announcing our New Website about Atina, the Val di Comino and Ciociaria
http://atina.shapcott-family.com
I have always felt that I have “Bella Italia” in my blood
and the little mountain town of Atina in Frosinone
is a place very dear to my heart.
My maternal grandparents originated from the beautiful Comune of Atina, Frosinone, Italy, overlooking the River Melfa and the Meta and Mainarde mountains, and the Abruzzi.
This region is also known as Ciociaria, the name is derived from an ancient rudimentary type of footware “Le Ciocie”, typically worn by shepherds of the area. I am proud to be able to call myself a “Ciociara”.
15 years ago Paul 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.
We often visit Atina, Montecassino and surrounding area, and are getting to know the area well.
Last weekend we explored the village of Caira, The German War Cemetery at Cassino, the nearby village of Caira, Picinisco and Gallinaro.
One of our hobbies is photography and another is Family History. We’ve recently joined the Anglo-Italian Family History Association.
We are researching the following surnames in the Atina area:
Leonardi, Del Prete, Rossi, Farina, Salvia, Bracciale, Tortolani, Di Fiore, Pesce, Massa, Capogrossi, Rolfi
Last year we had 3 sets of guests here with us at “Tre Cancelle” who were tracing their family roots in the Atina / Ciociaria area. We did our very best to help them and took them all on a tour of the area.
If you share my passion for Atina, the Val di Comino and Ciociaria, or if you have family that originated from this beautiful area of Italy …
Please do feel free to get in contact. We would love to hear from you.
We have also started a Group on Facebook called “We Love Atina!!!” Perhaps you might like to join and meet other people with Atina connections.
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49 comments
Comments feed for this article
April 7, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Brigida Varley
Hello
Found you web site while trying to find information of my grandfather, who died in Atina. My mother does not know the year he was born or died. Can you help me by advising me on how i can find the dates i am looking for. I recognised Atina from you photo’s I did go there as I was growing up, the last time I visited Atina I was 18y now i am 53y. I am in the middle of doing my family tree and would welcome any information at all. Or would you know of any one out there that could find my Grand fathers head stone and retrieve the information for me, his name was Luigi Visocchi, I think he died early 60′s. If I have no joy by emails then at some stage i will have to take a trip out to Atina, from the UK.
Kind regards
Brigida Rita Lucia Varley.
March 6, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Brigida Varley
Though this web site I have had contact from my cousins in Canada, that you so much. We are not busy emailing each other for information on our family tree.
Brigida
March 7, 2010 at 11:07 am
NonnaLou
So pleased for you !!!
March 16, 2011 at 8:08 pm
luigi visocchi
Hi Brigida Now I remember your mother name is Margherita the other name that I e-mail to you is my cousin in england sorry for the mistake .Thanks Luigi Visocchi p.s If you talk to her say hello to her from me tell her I am figlio the Malone ( that was is nick name)
March 6, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Brigida Varley
I was so excited about finding my cousins I did not check my spellings sorry to you all.
Oops.
March 7, 2010 at 11:11 am
NonnaLou
Quite understandable !!! We are so happy for you. Do keep in touch.
March 22, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Brigida Varley
Hi Luigi
Please get in touch and use my email brigida.varley@hotmail.co.uk
would be lovely to hear from you.
take care
Brigida
April 8, 2009 at 4:34 am
Hilda
MyPicinisco parents also were from Atina. My mother would talk a lot to us about Picinisco. My husband and I took our first trip to Italy in Oct. 2007 and visited with cousins I never met. It was wonderful and everyone is very hospitable and welcoming.
May 7, 2009 at 8:42 am
Mr. Atheist
Ciao Ciociari! I love the picture of the cioc’!
July 23, 2009 at 10:18 am
Tony Franchi
My father was born in Atina back in 1889 and came to the UK with his parents around 1895. The family settled in London and in Newcastle and there are still many relatives around in the UK but, as far as I know, none left in Atina. Last time I was there was about 5 years ago. I fould people slightly suspicious because I think they are worried that descendants are trying to find out if they still have land etc. there. It would appear that the Franchi family were comparitively wealthy as there is still the Franchi Olive Mill which my father said was owned by the family when they left. I would love to know the reason my Grandfather and his brothers upped and left. I am told that they came over here by train which in those days was unusual. If anyone knows anything about the family back in the 19th. century I would be very surprised but also very interested. My father’s sister went to NZ at the end of the FIrst World War and her descendants are all over NZ now. Obviosly she lost the family name when she married but it was one of my cousins in NZ that told me about this site.
August 25, 2010 at 2:28 am
Renata Pucci
My name is Renata. I know that this mail is not expecting that, but I am trying for several years a contact with Tony Franchi who spent many holidays at Forte dei Marmi with his family. By chance I found some information on this site and I do hope you might be the right person. If I was so lucky, please reply me.
October 3, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Renata Pucci
My e-mail: pucci.renata@gmail.com
August 3, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Robert Vercesi
My name is Robert Vercesi. My grandmothers maiden name was Delicata and she was born in Atina in 1878. She came over to England when she was about 13 years old and settled in London with her older sister Laura. My grandmother’s christian name was Loretta. She married my ghrandfather, Orazio Vercesi, in London in September 1898. They had twin boys Romolo and Remo in August 1899. One of these boys, Romolo, was my father. My grandmother’s father was Domenico Delicata and her mother’s maiden name was Manzi.
I was wondering if the name Delicata is familiar to you as I understand it is quite a popular name in Atina and in the Frosinone area.
October 17, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Paula Delicata
Hi. Robert,My greatgranfather was name Giuseppe Delicata and came from Atina-Birmingham about 1800.,My grandfather Raffaele was 15mths old on the1881 census but we are having difficulty in opttaining a birth certificate.On the 1881 census the name is spelt Delicatto they lived at 33, Bartholomew st,Birmingham Warwick.Your greatgrandmothers maiden name Manzi is no a name that I have come across in my research!! Regards Paula.
October 20, 2009 at 12:17 am
Paula Delicata
Ii am so sorry but I put the wrong year that my greatgrandfather came to Birmingham from Atina it was 1880 not 1800.Paula.
August 9, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Debra D'Annunzio
Hi I am the author of LIVERPOOL’S ITALIAN FAMILIES and also have a spot on BBC radio Merseyside’s Nostalgia programme. The book sold out within several weeks of it’s launch and has now gone for a second print!
My Great Grand-parents, Michele D’Annunzio & Fortunata Mancini both came from Atina and travelled to Liverpool in 1878 setting up the first welcoming house in Liverpool’s Little Italy. I have visited Atina several times and have fallen in love with the place. I very proud of my Italian heritage and have dedicated a whole chapter in the book to both Atina & Picinisco where most of Liverpool’s Italian Families came from. Our Italian Consul Nunzia Bertali and Liverpool’s Deputy Leader Flo Clucas(Valerio) presented a copy of my book to the Italian president because of it’s chapter dedicated to the sinking of the internment ship SS Arandora Star, also a relative of mine, Antonio D’Annunzio who had settled in Glasgow drowned on board 2nd July 1940 aged 34. If anyone has any information regarding my family history in Atina I would appreciate it.
Yours Debra D’Annunzio
December 29, 2010 at 6:17 pm
billymc gowan
Hi My great gran came from Atina – Rosalea Mancini 1864 and left in 1890 for London where she married Vittorio Prete from Casale, Isernia. They then came to Glasgow and had cafe .I think there might be a Fortunata Mancini in my tree.
November 14, 2011 at 7:54 am
Dom Mancini
LOL Debra,
My Dad is a Mancini and My Mom a D’annunzio and we hail from Atina as well!!
Dom Mancini
September 30, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Jade Pierce
Hello,
I was in Atina 13 1/2 years ago. I found my long-lost cousins, the Rossi family, while I was there. My grandfather, Tony Rossi, emigrated from Atina to Detroit, Mi around WWI. Its wonderful to see these pictures of Atina. I have many fond memories though I haven’t been back since my first visit there… when my cousins took me in without knowing me at all, and we had a wonderful visit. I’m hoping to connect with my english-speaking cousins with the last name of Fortunata, they own a pensione in lower Atina.
Jade (Rossi) Pierce
ps. there used to be a little community in Watertown, Ma – where there were many immigrants from Atina!
October 4, 2009 at 7:16 pm
NonnaLou
Hi Jade. Thanks for leaving your message.
I have Rossi’s in my family tree too. I would love to know more about your Rossi’s.
You can contact me directly at nonnalou_i@yahoo.com
Ciao for now !!!
January 17, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Paul Rossi
Hello, both my parents were born in atina, and are also from Watertown Ma. It’s pretty amazing how 100′s of imigrants from atina had all relocated to the same towns. Good luck on your search!…Paul
October 3, 2009 at 11:22 am
Brigida Varley
Hello every One
So nice to read that you have been to Atina and loved it, I do remember it very well and yes it’s a lovely places, next year I plan to go with my husband as he has not yet had the pleasure of seeing Atina. I do have cousins still living there, I am going to visit my mother who lives in Moniano which is about 2 1/2 hours drive from Atina, it’s a flying visit. I hope to obtain from her the address of my cousins in Atina, then from there, I will plan my trip to Atina.
If any of you have information on the Visocchi family I would love if you could contact me. by email. My cousins names were Angelina, Michale, Stephan, and Anna-Maria. Does these names ring a bell to any one?
Regards
Brigida
October 22, 2009 at 1:50 am
Mark Waldron
Hello Brigida,
I can’t help you with any information on connections in Atina, but have this to offer for genealogical interest. My grandmother immigrated to the US and moved from the Boston area with three small children to a small mill community west of Boston called Maynard. As a child, I can remember her taking my mother and I to the Visocchi farm to pick mushrooms. I later learned that my grandmother, Maria DiVito, and Mr. Visocchi knew each other from Atina.
I have no idea if any Visocchi’s still live in the area.
Best regards, Mark
June 9, 2010 at 11:11 am
Simon Rollitt
There are many Visocchis in Atina. My partner Mary is related to the Tutinelli family there and at Christmas we stayed at the Palazzo Visocchi with Pierluigi and Paula Visocchi and their daughters. I no longer have their email address, but a postal address. Lovely, lovely people.
We will be going back to Atina this year sometime – hopefully sooner than later
Simon
August 30, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Brigida Varley (Meccariello)
Hi Mark
I have read you reply on this site, it’s been some time since I have done any back groud work on my family tree, due to work commitments. I do have cousins still in Atina, who are from my mothers sister side which I have lost contact with. (Carolina). This is so hard to try and find out more as my mother now living in Moiano, Benevento, does not remember very much at all about my grandfather. I don’t think she remembers any thing about my great-grandfather either, she is 82y now.
I feel next year I would like to plan a trip out to Atina, with my husband to see if I can locate any of my cousins.
Regards
Brigida
March 16, 2011 at 7:50 pm
luigi visocchi
I Brigida I believe that you must be one of my relative my grantfather name was Luigi Visocchi and my grantmother name before she got married was Luisa Randolfi they both where from atina and your mother name is Maria (Caira)
October 3, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Anita Di Duca
Really interesting to read everyone’s connections with Atina. My father was born there in 1937 and came to the UK in 1949 after the war and settled in Birmingham where he lived and worked until 2004 when he and my mother decided to spend their retirement back in Atina where they still are now. We started visiting relatives towards the end of the 1990′s and we were always made so welcome. We loved the area so much we decided to buy an apartment in 2003 which we use as a base when we visit my parents. There are many Di Duca’s in the area and every time we go we accidently find another long lost relative. We’re off again in a couple of weeks to see my parents and to enjoy the food, wine and beautiful scenery that the area has so much of.
Regards
Anita
October 9, 2009 at 10:20 am
Brigida Varley
Hi Anita Di Duca
I live in Birmingham, was born in Hemel Hempstead, I would love to know were in the West Midlands you are located. You may be able to help me in locating my relatives, as you know Anitna is not a big places and every one knows every one. Please let me know if you can help me at all.
Loved reading you clip
Regards
Brigida
October 9, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Robert Vercesi
I live in Pelsall which is a suburb of Walsall.
My email address is caporobertovercesi@talktalk.net
I would very much like to hear from you.
Regards,
Robert Vercesi
March 17, 2011 at 7:34 pm
luigi visocchi
Hi Brigida my name is luigi visocchi I live in stoney creek ,ontario , canada. My grantfather’s name was Luigi Visocchi and my grantmother’s maiden name was Luisa Gantolfi.your mother’s is Margerita she is my father’s sister Carolina is also my father’s sister.Can you please get in touch with me.Thanks Luigi Visocchi
April 20, 2010 at 7:49 am
cathy h
I am taking my mother for the first time to visit Atina which is where her mother’s family originally came from – the amata/Amato family who moved to Ancoats in manchester, or in her father’s case to Glasgow.
Any ideas for what I should do during our short trip at the end of May to help her really relish the experience – no Italian spoken!! – and I wonder i f there are still Amata s living there……….
February 3, 2011 at 6:07 pm
philip amato burns
Did you manage to get to A tinaare you adecendant of pietro my Grandfather was Michele Amato born 1880 in Atina
November 10, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Carol Grady
Hi,
I’m researching my partner’s Italian Ancestor’s, the family name throughout the years have been spelt diffrently (Coppeller, Coppella, Copola.) His Great-Great Grandfather was Philip Coppeller born 1856/1857? and we are not sure wheter it was in Atina or Gallinaro.When he got married in England in 1876, he put his father was a farmer called John who was deceased. Can you give me any tips where I start to look for this information.
Regards,
Carol
November 21, 2010 at 2:18 am
Franca C.
Hello,
I just came across this site by accident and read that you are looking for Viscocchi family members. My family is originally from Casalvieri, Frosinone but we now reside in Windsor, Ontario Canada. There are a few Visocchis here in Windsor as well and they originated from Atina.
Domenico Visocchi resides here in Windsor, he just celebrated his 100th Birthday, his wife Anita passed away quite a few years ago. They have three children here and possibly other relatives.
March 18, 2011 at 3:45 am
Beatrice Costello (Visocchi)
I am a Visocchi. My parents are Fortunato Visocchi and Serafina Visocchi(Volante of Frosinone). He is the son of Guiseppe and Beatrice Visocchi (Nardelli). I know of the Visocchi’s of Windsor quite well. I know Domenico and Anita’s daughter, Antonietta the best, since her cousin Gina Fazari (Visocchi) and myself are very close ( as our parents were). Gina’s father and my father were very close since they lived very close toone another in Atina, and they were the two Visocchi’s to leave Windsor and settle in Hamilton Ontario. My Uncle Renato and his daughters Renata and Nila still live in Italy with their respective families.
My parents and brother immigrated to Canada in 1952. No other family immigrated from my fathers immediate family.
Its rather odd,we are 2 fractions of the Visocchi family from Atina that are not directly related but feel related since we have relatives in common from the Volante (maternal) side of the family.
Unfortunately my greatest sources of information have passed on, but I do remember alot of what my father told us.
I hope this helps.
December 12, 2010 at 9:07 pm
philip amato burns
I AM THE ELDEST GRANDSON OF MICHELE AMATO BORN IN ATINA 1880
MICHELE WAS THE ELDEST CHILD OF GIUSEPPE AND MARIA GIUSEPINA
HIS MOTHER YOUNGEST BROTHER AND SISTERS FOLLOWED MI
HIM TO ANCOATS MANCHESTER OTHER BROTHERS FOLLOWED BUT SETTLED
IN GLASGOW MICHELE MARRIED NUNZIATA COPPOLA WHOS FAMILY ALSO ARRIVED IN ANCOATS FROM PICINISCO
IN GLASGOW
February 3, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Robert Vercesi
My great uncle Angelo DELICATA (Born circa 1882) married
Elvira Blanche Ida AMATA (Born circa 1890). Angelo was born in Atina. I don’t know when or where he married Elvira. There is a distinct possibility that they met and married in London in about 1910. I don’t know where Elvira was born but it is possible that we are distantly related if she was born in Atina.
July 8, 2011 at 7:56 pm
gina
Hello, I am the Great Great granddaughter of Federico Battaglia, born 1837(the son of Luigi Battaglia b1807,and Gaetana Tutinelli ) he was married to Carmela Secondini b 1834, they had a son called Filippo Battaglia b1858 and a Daughter Filomena Battaglia.b1864
Filippo married Emilia Maria Teresa Amata b 1860 was the daughter of Antonio Luigi Amata b1833 and Carmela Vecchione b1834.
Wold be lovely to here from anyone who could be a distant cousin.
Gina UK Northamptonshire.
November 23, 2011 at 1:35 am
carole rossi
My name is Carole Rossi. My husband’s maternal side of the family is from Atina—the name is Fortuna. We have heard that the great grandfather Fortunato Fortuna owned a cantina and owned property he rented to other locals. Have you ever come across this name? The son was Enrico Fortuna –he married Angelina D’Inverno (her father was Giovanni D’Invero).
The paternal side of the family was from Villa Latina—the surname is Rossi. Giuseppe Rossi was my husbands grandfather–his wife was Elisabetta DiTroia.
I have some birth, death and marriage records but would like to know as much as I can about this family.
December 11, 2011 at 1:49 am
Noeleen
My name is Noeleen Kino the only connection I have to Atina is that my eldest brother was named Atina, I named my son and he named his son Atina. My dad and two of his brothers, served in the New Zealand 28th Maori Battelion another of their brothers’ was in a regular unit, they were stationed around Casino during the 2nd world war, I think there were about 4 other families that named their son’s Atina, my brother was called Artie, my son is Ardy and some of the others’ are called Archi, I just like to say hello, or kia ora
December 12, 2011 at 4:01 pm
NonnaLou
Hi Noeleen,
How very interesting. Yes I had heard that New Zealand troops served in the Atina area. Atina went through some terrible times during the war – being so close to Montecassino. Today it ia a peaceful beautiful community overlooking the beatiful Val di Commino and the Abruzzi mountains. Thank you so much for getting in touch, Louise
January 21, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Madeleine
My name is Madeleine Ferrara I am from Ayr and have been living in Spain for 40 years.
Both my maternal Grandparents came from Atina.
Maddalena Tamburro, born 1890 & Antonio Domenico Mancini, born 1885.
My Grandfather at 6 years of age was taken to London to live with a Mr. & Mrs. Tortolani, friends of the family. My Grandmother at the age of 19 immigrated to Glasgow with the help of a family friend. They were introduced, probably by a family member and they married. Most probably this was an arranged marriage.
They lived in the town of Ayr, Scotland and built the Royal Café in New Road. It still belongs to the Mancini family.
During the II World war my Grandfather was forced to leave his wife and 6 children, to be shipped to Canada on the Arandora Star along with over 1500 Italian, German and Jewish prisoners. The shipped was torpedoed by a German submarine, over 800 perished, unfortunately my Grandfather was one of them.
My Uncle Ralph (Mancini) and other members of our family visit Atina quite often. I went there when I was 7 and I would love to go back and get to know the town and if possible meet family and friends.
February 5, 2012 at 2:42 am
Geri Bouchard
My father was born in Atina on June 5,1914 and cAme to USA in 1919 with his family. My father was Orazio J. Bianchi and his twin brother Mario. His mother was Assunta (Valente) Bianchi and his father was Allesio Bianchi. I would li,e to find any Information on my family that is available.thank you
Geri Bianchi
February 27, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Deborah Arrandale
My great great grandfather was born here in 1869. Trying to find out any and all information I can. His name was Antonio Tavolieri.
Thanks you
Deborah Arrandale
February 27, 2012 at 9:06 pm
Deborah Arrandale
His wifes name was rose ventrillo
May 3, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Ken Burns
I am helping my friend trace her family history. Her great grand parents were Guiseppe Iannarelli, born 1868, and Maria C Verdicchio, born 1877.
They married in Atina, Italy, in about 1893. They came to England in 1894 and had two babies in Plymouth. They returned to Atina where my friend’s grandmother, Annina Iannarelli, was born in 1902. They came back to England and settled in Darlington, County Durham. The had another six babies, making nine children in all.
Any information about the Iannarelli or Verdicchio families in Atina would be very welcome and much appreciated.
Ken
May 7, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Brigida Varley
How can I show this link on my Face book page?
May 7, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Brigida Varley
But how can I join the page on face book
May 7, 2012 at 11:07 am
NonnaLou
I thought you might be interested that there is a group on Facebook called WE LOVE ATINA.
You can find it here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/62618687824/