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At the end of August we were delighted to have our younger son Ben, his “other half” Emma and “Baby Bump” to stay. They are expecting a little arrival at the end of November and were both much in need of a relaxing holiday. This was to be Emma’s first trip to Italy.
Although their stay here was all too brief, Ben and Emma managed to fit in ….. a couple of days at the beach …..
some local sight-seeing (Sperlonga) …..
and a day in Rome.
We were all kindly invited to our friends, Luca and Loredana’s home, for a special meal to celebrate Luca’s 50th Birthday. Buon Compleanno Luca !!!
By the way -such a landmark birthday is shortly looming for
Paul this October !!!
One day we were also invited to San Donato and Atina in the Val di Comino and enjoyed another delicious meal with our Italian cousins.
Emma is a very passionate and creative cook and during her stay, delighted in preparing some srumptious food for us all.
Local tomatoes, Mozzarella di Bufala Drizzled With "Tre Cancelle" Olive Oil
Breakfast - Emma's Tasty Potato Cakes
Please come back soon Emma !!!
“Papa Woods” and Emma are about to move into their new home together in Cardiff, in time to get settled before the little addition to their family arrives.
We wish them all lots of love and all the very best in their new home.
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some local sight-seeing
Every once and a while we get a surprise phone call around mid morning from our Atina cousins, saying that on the spur of the moment they have decided to pay us a visit, that they are on the way and not to worry as they have everything pre-prepared for lunch !!!
On this occasion cousins Mario and Mara were accompanied by Mara’s sister Graziella and close family friend Anna. They arrived with a delicious sausage sugo and a tray of freshly made spaghetti, purchased that morning from the “Fresh Pasta Shop” in Atina. Mara quickly took charge of the kitchen and a large pot of water was put on the hob to boil.
After a tasty, filling repast we all elected to go for a little passeggiata with some of the dogs to help work off some of the meal.
As our cousins bade their farewells and set off for home we realised that that same evening, we had been invited to dinner by our friends Anna and Salvatore.
As soon as we arrived at their apartment, it was clear that Anna had been hard at work all day in the kitchen preparing an delectable meal. We chatted convivially while we waited for another friend, Pasquale, to arrive . The dining table was already richly spread with small homemade pizzas with various unusual toppings including courgettes and squash. Soon battle commenced as we began to tuck in !!!
Salvatore proudly explained that this evening we were to feast on the products of their recently butchered pig. Having dispatched the pizza slices, we were all presented with a generous dish of polenta served with a tomato sugo, extremely filling as you can imagine !!!
Then came the next course of spare ribs and homemade sausages. At this point we were struggling, however another course was waiting in the wings – sliced roast pork with contorni of peas and onions. Then a mixed leaf salad, to cleanse the palate before the desserts, coffee and liqueurs.
By the end of this epic meal we were absolutely full to bursting, but thoroughly enjoyed the superb cooking. Compliments to the chef !!!
Thanks once again to Anna, Salvatore and family.
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I (Louie) have been beavering away on the old computer.
Using my own photos I have now put together 2 Video / Slideshows.
Please do take a look ………..
One is dedicated to :
Our “Tre Cancelle” Farmhouse Holiday Apartments
The second is about this interesting region of South Lazio
that we are so lucky to now live in :
I hope this will give you an idea
of what beauty surrounds us here at
“Tre Cancelle”
For more details about our 2 Farmhouse Holiday Apartments
and other local Holiday Villas available to rent,
please go to our Website at :
http://trecancelle.shapcott-family.com
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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 28th 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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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 !!!
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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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One day we drove with Ben and Keith up to Atina, to visit “la famiglia” where we were, as always warmly received. It was over 3 years since Ben’s last time in Atina.
He enjoyed wandering through the cobbled streets, taking some photos here and there of the home town of his Italian great-grandparents, Benedetto and Maria Grazia.
photos by ben woods
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At last we drove into the historic centre of Atina, where my family live in the quaint narrow cobblestoned alley of Via Dolabella. As always we were warmly welcomed.
The cousins soon began to tell us of their experiences on the night of the dreadful earthquake. Mario awoke to a feel the bed violently shaking, along with all the other furniture in the house. He roused Mara and hurriedly got dressed. They said it seemed as if the shaking and rumbling was never ending, the quaking just seemed to go on and on. I could see the fear in their eyes. They said they did not know what to do. Many of the buildings in the historic centre of Atina date back many centuries, and are built of rock with no anti-seismic protection, their own house from around 1600. They were afraid to go outside for fear of being hurt by falling masonry, and there are no large open spaces near to their home where they could escape to. Finally, thank goodness, the shaking subsided.
However, the following day (Tuesday) there had been more violent after-shocks, some only slightly weaker than the main one, which were just as frightening. This time Mario, who is a Fireman, was more prepared. He had placed a heavy hammer near the front door, in case they needed to get out and the door should become jammed. They prepared a bag of essential belongings and medication in case they had to vacate their home quickly. They decided to hope for the best and to stay put, nervously listening to the deep rumbling, violent shaking whilst observing the pendant light fittings vigorously oscillating. These ongoing aftershocks continued to traumatise people in this region, and hamper rescue teams in their work. Everyone is very on edge.
This is not our family’s first earthquake experience. In May 1984 there was a strong earthquake in the Val di Comino, with the epicentre near to San Donato, which badly damaged the town and the surrounding towns such as Atina. After this devastating event our family had to live in tents and caravans for several weeks before they could return home. Prior to that there were earthquakes recorded in this immediate area in 1901 and 1915. This area has been ravaged by such earthquakes from time immemorial, in fact Atina was totally destroyed during an quake in 1349.
* photo by david davies
We said our goodbyes to Mario and Mara, and headed off across the Val di Comino to San Donato to visit Antonella with a basket of flowers to try and lift her spirits. She had learned that morning that two of her close student friends were found in the ruins of the student accommodation block in L’Aquila, that collapsed like a pack of cards in the earthquake. They were sisters, Genny and Giusy Antonini, aged 22 and 24, who were studying biotechnology and nursing. Antonella was very upset naturally and said that she wanted to return to L’Aquila for the mass funeral of 205 of then 287 victims to be held there on Good Friday, which had been announced as a national day of mourning for the dead.
Antonella had been in L’Aquila that fateful night as she was due to sit an exam the following morning. She began to recount her experiences of that dreadful night, how everything was shaking and things were falling all around her. Still dressed in her pyjamas she grabbed her phone and decided to try and get out, having to move a heavy wardrobe that had toppled to get out of the door. She said it had been really horrendous, and she had found hundreds of people wandering around L’Aquila in a daze. The shaking had seemed never to stop. As a few hours passed, the early morning light revealed the extent of the devastation. Even now it’s an experience that she feels hasn’t really sunk in. It seems inconceivable. It is unlikely that she will be able to continue her studies in L’Aquila, as yet no one knows what will happen.
Antonella wishes to thank everyone for thinking of her and for their messages of love and support.
We asked Elena what an earthquake sounded it like. She said it was a terrifying thunderous roaring reverberation from deep in the bowels of the earth, a sound quite unlike any other. ”It feels as if the mountains are going to crumple on top of you”, she said. The region had experienced a large number of tremors since last October, which seem to have been steadily increasing in strength.
The following day , Thursday 9th April, yet again there were numerous sharp tremors, the most severe registering 5.2 magnitude.
This had been Italy’s worst earthquake for 3 decades. Large areas of L’Aquila now stand in ruins, especially much of the historic centre with edifices that dated back to the 13th century. Many buildings that were supposed to have been built to anti-seismic regulations have collapsed. Many villages surrounding this town also suffered severe damage, one community Onno was totally destroyed.
The death toll now stands at 293, with more than 1500 injured. 28,000 people have been made homeless and have lost everything. Some of the more fortunate have been sent to stay in hotels on the Adriatic coast, however there are 17,000 still living in the hastily erected temporary tent camps, where they have to wait in long queues to receive food and drink, and endure smelly toilets, cold showers, no electricity and icy night time temperatures, rain and hailstorms. In fact some prefer to sleep in cars and also coaches brought in by the local authorities.
Berlusconi has been in the limelight this week, wishing to be seen visiting the disaster area. We have recently been reading some of Beppe Grillo’s satirical blog reports in which he writes about the Italian President, referring to him as “the psychotic dwarf with the tar-smeared hair”. This week during an interview for German TV Berlusconi insensitively remarked: “[The victims] have everything they need. They have medical care, hot food … of course, their current lodgings are a bit temporary, but they should see it like a weekend of camping.” He is also reported to have told survivors of the Italian earthquake to lift their spirits by heading for the beach. What a buffoon !!!
There is now to be an investigation into possible criminal blame regarding shoddy building work of San Salvatore, Aquila’s hospital built in 2000 which was supposed to have been a state-of-the art earthquake proof building, and now lies in ruins. It is alleged that sea sand had been used, instead of normal sand mixed with cement (to increase the construction company’s profits). Experts say that the steel reinforcing rods in the concrete structure can become corroded by the salt in the sand with potentially fatal consequences. The construction firm which specialises in building hospitals is Impregilo, which has a monopoly on all major public works in Italy. This company also builds Waste Incinerator Plants and is also implicated with the Camorra in the mismanagement of waste disposal in Naples, which caused last year’s waste crisis, and are in line to get the contract to build the Messina Bridge to link Sicily and Rome, and several new Nuclear Power Stations. Scary or what !!!
This catastrophe has certainly stirred up emotions, however despite Berlusconi’s stupid gaffs, and people having turned up from areas not in the slightest affected by the earthquake demanding free hotel accommodation by the sea, and some civil unrest in the form of looting, in general this Easter it has brought the Italian people closer together in both thought and in prayer.
* photo by david davies (flickr)
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On our way to Atina, we decided to first take Mike and Mary to see the spectacular Abbey of Montecassino and then proceeded to drive on through Caira and up towards the village of Terelle. Near here we halted for a tasty little picnic, blessed with panoramic views of the snow-capped Abruzzi mountains and the wide expanse of the verdant Cassino valley that stretched below.
Terelle
We began to make our gradual descent, passing through Terelle’s magnificient chestnut woods which are said to be the most beautiful in all of Lazio. The largest chestnut tree has a circumference of 12 metres and the oldest is 800 years old. On the second Sunday of November a well-known Sagra delle Castagne or Chestnut Festival takes place in Terelle. Here there is the opportunity to eat the local roasted chestnuts and desserts and cakes made of them and sample other such delicacies such as wild boar, local hams, sausages, cheeses, bread, polenta, beans, mushrooms, and try a sip or two of the local Cesanese wine.
We continued our descent passing beautiful vistas of the picturesque village of Belmonte Castello which appears to cling to and wind its way around the rock spur on which it stands.
Belmonte Castello
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