Daughter of Marina Magnani, seamstress, and father unknown.
She grew up with her grandparents and aunts in a house between the Capitol and the Palatine Hill, living a peaceful childhood despite the distance from her mother who left her in their care to go to Alexandria with her new husband.
He became passionate about the piano, attending the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia for a while, where he studied as a concert pianist. Her encounter with acting, on the other hand, was entirely coincidental: she started at the ‘Eleonora Duse’ school of dramatic art, directed by Silvio d’Amico, in 1924 and was soon noticed and engaged in Dario Niccodemi’s company.
Between 1926 and 1932, after a period of apprenticeships, minor parts and very long tours, the fame and importance of his roles on stage began to grow. Following this period, he turned to the more popular and spontaneous avant-garde theatre, which was instrumental in his growth and artistic eclecticism.
Her relationship with Goffredo Alessandrini, director, whom she married in October 1935, also dates back to these years.
In the meantime, sound cinema opened its doors to her, but it was not until 1941 that she achieved her first big success, as the star of Teresa Venerdì under the direction of Vittorio De Sica. This was followed a few years later by winning his first Silver Ribbon in Roberto Rossellini’s Roma città aperta (1945), with whom he formed an intense artistic and private partnership.
The pinnacle of her worldwide fame came in 1956, when she was the first Italian female lead actress to win an Oscar, for her performance in Daniel Mann’s film La rosa tatutata (1955).
There were many other films in which he took part, among them Bellissima (1951) by Luchino Visconti, Saggio è il vento (1957) by George Cukor, Mamma Roma (1962) by Pierpaolo Pasolini and Roma (1972) by Federico Fellini.
Nannarella was an actress endowed with uncommon humanity and spontaneity: with her mimicry and particular somatic and verbal traits, she was able to embody both the deepest despair and the lightest hopes of the post-war period, which neo-realist cinema intended to portray, thus becoming an emblem.
He died in Rome, fifty years ago, on 26th September 1973.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1908
It should be noted that the deed presents the declaration of birth made by the mother alone, following her “natural union with an unmarried man, not related or kin to her in the degrees that preclude recognition”. It is no coincidence that the birthplace indicated is the maternity nursery at 126 Via Salaria, a place where pregnant women in difficulty or single mothers were protected and supported in giving birth to their children.
On the side is the chancellery note reporting the celebration of the marriage with Goffredo Alessandrini in Rome on 3rd October 1935.
For more on the figure of Anna Magnani, see the entry in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani edited by Giorgio Pangaro.
Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1908
Mi chiamo Alberto Del Fra, vivo a Roma, ho il desiderio di lasciare ai miei figli e ai miei nipoti memoria dei nostri antenati, coloro che ci hanno trasmesso ciò che fa di noi ciò che siamo oggi.
Un anno fa ho avuto notizia da un mio amico dell’esistenza del Portale Antenati e da quel momento mi sono buttato a capofitto in un’avventura che giudico entusiasmante.
Il Portale mi ha fatto entrare in un mondo lontano, del quale avevo conoscenza solo dai libri di storia.
Com’è noto, la storia si avvale di documenti, attraverso i quali si ricostruiscono gli avvenimenti. Così è stato per me spulciando le iscrizioni di nascite, morti e matrimoni dei miei avi. Documenti in apparenza freddi e burocratici, che in realtà mi hanno fatto scoprire storie di caduta e di riscatto, liete e drammatiche dei miei avi, insieme al contesto generale nel quale essi sono vissuti.
Il paese d’origine dei Del Fra, per quanto ne sapevo, era Vasto (un paese del Chietino) in Abruzzo, quello della famiglia De Mauro di mia madre era Manfredonia in Puglia. Dalla conoscenza dei nomi dei miei nonni paterni, ho cominciato a cercare notizie negli archivi anagrafici di Vasto, ciò mi ha aperto un mondo. Ho trovato i miei bisnonni e poi i trisavoli, i quadrisavoli, i pentavoli, alcuni esavoli.
Credo di aver spulciato migliaia di documenti e al di là delle notizie trovate sui miei avi, mi si è presentato un quadro generale dei centri rurali del meridione, coerente con quanto narrato dai libri di storia.
I nostri avi maschi erano in gran parte braccianti, chiamati bracciali e contadini analfabeti, come si evince dalla dichiarazione dell’ufficiale anagrafico in calce a quasi tutti i documenti.
Dichiarazione di analfabetismo
C’erano anche alcuni artigiani (calzolai, barbieri, sarti etc.), anch’essi spesso analfabeti, e pochissime persone abbienti, che avevano diritto al titolo di don nei documenti anagrafici.
Le ave erano invece casalinghe, tessitrici, cucitrici, anche contadine. Le mogli dei don avevano diritto al titolo di donna.
Nei matrimoni erano necessari i consensi dei padri degli sposi o, in caso di morte degli stessi, dei nonni paterni. Solo se morti anch’essi, il consenso veniva dato dalle madri. Un chiaro indizio di sistema patriarcale.
Impressionante la mortalità infantile: i registri dei morti sono colmi di nomi di bambini di pochi anni e talvolta di pochi giorni. Questo portava a un fenomeno curioso: la ripetizione dei nomi. Per esempio nasceva un bambino di nome Francesco che moriva presto. Il successivo nato veniva chiamato di nuovo Francesco. In vari casi ho trovato ben tre fratelli con lo stesso nome. Tra l’altro ho scoperto una cosa che probabilmente nemmeno mio padre sapeva: era il secondo Ettore della famiglia.
Evidentemente le scarse condizioni igienico/sanitarie e la mancanza di farmaci efficaci facilitavano la mortalità infantile.
Ovviamente anche l’indice di natalità era altissimo. Non era raro arrivare a un numero di figli in doppia cifra, fenomeno presente anche tra i miei avi.
Piuttosto rimarchevole era il fenomeno dei trovatelli, indicati come proietti. Chi li presentava all’ufficiale anagrafico era spesso la levatrice del paese.
C’era anche qualche ragazza che presentava un proprio figlio naturale, scegliendo coraggiosamente di allevare un figlio in una società che l’avrebbe tenuta al margine.
Un caso di questo genere capitò anche tra i miei antenati e merita un racconto. Una certa Carolina Di Guglielmo, cucitrice, ha una figlia naturale che chiama Maria alla quale insegna il suo mestiere. Probabilmente Maria non poteva essere considerata un buon partito. Un mio bisnonno Giovan Battista Del Fra, calzolaio, mestiere ereditato dal nonno paterno, lascia il suo luogo di nascita Tufo (un paese dell’Aquilano), il vero luogo d’origine dei Del Fra, per trasferirsi a Vasto. Compie un trasferimento inusuale per quei tempi, data la distanza ragguardevole tra le due località. Pure lui ha un marchio disonorevole: è figlio di un contrabbandiere ucciso dalle guardie doganali.
L’unione di queste due persone sfortunate porta a una famiglia che vive dignitosamente. Evidentemente Maria è una brava cucitrice e Giovanbattista un valente calzolaio, come si desume dalla firma in calce all’atto del matrimonio non era analfabeta, visto che danno una buona condizione ai figli maschi, in particolare a mio nonno Pasquale.
Pasquale infatti mette su una caffetteria e riesce a far diplomare tutti i figli maschi e a laurearne uno. Naturalmente le figlie femmine non sono messe nelle stesse condizioni. Queste ultime notizie provengono da una conoscenza diretta dei miei zii.
In definitiva quella dei Del Fra è una storia di riscatto a lieto fine.
Per quanto riguarda le vicende dei De Mauro la famiglia di mia madre. Già nella prima metà del ‘700 sono padroni di mulini a Manfredonia. Si capisce che la loro fortuna va crescendo col tempo. Evidentemente, pur non essendo don, erano considerati dei buoni partiti, si uniscono con varie famiglie di don, quella dei Rizzi di Manfredonia e quelle dei Garamone e dei Rosati, provenienti da altri paesi della Puglia.
Un personaggio che merita una menzione particolare è Pietro Rizzi (1814-1897), farmacista di Manfredonia, mio trisavolo, personaggio di cui spesso mi parlava mia madre. Egli per un periodo doveva darsi alla latitanza poiché giudicato sovversivo dal regime borbonico. Questo però non gli impedirà di tornare spesso di nascosto a casa, mettendo regolarmente incinta sua moglie, sposata pochi mesi prima dalla nascita del primogenito.
Pietro Rizzi
Pietro Rizzi fu assolto in tribunale. Pare che una testimonianza a carico di Pietro sia quella del curato del paese, che racconta di discorsi sovversivi fatti dal trisavolo nella sua farmacia. L’avvocato dice all’usciere di far entrare il parroco. L’usciere torna dicendo che il prete alla sua chiamata non ha risposto. E allora è gioco facile per l’avvocato: Signor giudice, come può il parroco affermare di aver udito discorsi sovversivi se è sordo?
Poi, però, come testimoniano i documenti anagrafici, avviene la diaspora dei De Mauro da Manfredonia. Ci sono degli atti di nascita e di morte che li riguardano in altri paesi della Puglia, ma non sarebbero stati sufficienti a farmi avere un quadro comprensibile, se non avessi conosciuto direttamente da mia madre i fatti essenziali. Il mio bisnonno Francesco Paolo De Mauro avalla per un amico una cambiale di importo notevolissimo. L’amico non la onora e il bisnonno deve vendere tutto, compreso il palazzo in cui abita, trasferendosi a Cerignola. Il figlio Leonida, elettrotecnico, per trovare lavoro emigra a Milano con i figli tra cui mia madre.
Francesco Paolo De Mauro
Seguono purtroppo sciagure di tutti i tipi. Muoiono in rapida successione Leonida (di spagnola), mentre la moglie Nunzia e tutti i fratelli e le sorelle di mia madre, moriranno a causa di varie malattie. Mia madre a Milano incontra mio padre, trasferitosi là da Vasto come bancario. Pensate che io non ho mai conosciuto un parente di mia madre.
Alla fine ho individuato 59 cognomi diversi dei miei avi.
A proposito di cognomi, va osservato che talvolta cambiano col passare del tempo. Per esempio all’inizio trovo il cognome Del Frà e non Del Fra, in genere nella prima metà del secolo XIX i Di o i Del all’inizio dei cognomi sono scritti con la minuscola, poi l’uso cambia. Analogamente di Mauro è diventato De Mauro, di Guglielmo si è mutato in De Guglielmo. Sovente cambiano le finali dei cognomi: per esempio Annecchino che muta in Annecchini.
Lo stesso succede per i nomi: una Rosanna all’atto di nascita diventa Rosaria al matrimonio e alla morte. Il Giovan Battista già ricordato, al matrimonio è Giovanni, alla morte Giovanni Battista.
Forse perché le nascite e le morti venivano trascritte avvalendosi solo di testimonianze orali di persone spesso analfabete che parlavano in dialetto, con conseguente possibilità di equivoci con l’ufficiale anagrafico.
Poiché la mia ricerca mi ha portato a consultare una miriade di registri anagrafici di vari paesi dell’Abruzzo e della Puglia, ho potuto osservare come in ogni località si ripetano sempre gli stessi cognomi, differenti però da paese a paese. Un fatto che testimonia come quelle comunità fossero piuttosto chiuse, con rari spostamenti o comunque limitati a località vicine. Il nostro Francesco Del Fra, con il trasferimento da Tufo a Vasto, è l’eccezione che conferma la regola.
Questa mancanza quasi totale di mobilità mi ha senz’altro facilitato il compito: quasi tutti i miei antenati sono nati, si sono sposati e sono morti nello stesso posto. In tal caso è bastato quindi scorrere i registri di una sola località per ricostruire la loro storia.
Dall’inizio del ‘900 in poi una tale ricerca sarebbe molto più complicata: per esempio mio padre e i suoi fratelli si sono tutti allontanati dal luogo di origine, andando ad abitare in grandi centri. Termino con l’auspicio che il progetto del Portale continui ad essere alimentato con la pubblicazione di nuovi registri e con un ringraziamento di cuore a tutti coloro che vi collaborano
Enrico Fermi was born in Rome on 29th September 1901.
From a very young age, he showed a marked propensity for algebra and physics. He then entered the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, where he was able to deepen his knowledge of these disciplines and make a name for himself among the most illustrious professors of the time.
Having completed his studies abroad, he obtained his first chair in theoretical physics in Rome, at the institute in via Panisperna, where he began the most fruitful period of his scientific activity at the head of the group of young men named after the street of the same name.
He became a renowned teacher whose lectures and teachings were widely successful, even in America where he opened several other schools, increasing his notoriety through his innovative methods.
The years between 1927 and 1938 were marked by intense research activity by the entire Roman group on issues of international interest.
In 1938, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Even today, the influence of his work and his profound cross-disciplinary knowledge of the discipline are recognised worldwide.
Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, he emigrated to the United States with his entire family. There, in Chicago, at the age of 53, he died on 29th November 1954.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1901
For more on the figure of Enrico Fermi, see the entry in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani edited by Emilio Segrè.
Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1901
Pietro Giovanni Ferrero was born in Farigliano (CN) on 2nd September 1898.
The son of farmers in the Piedmont Langhe, he soon decided to open a pastry shop in Alba (CN) and to launch innovative but inexpensive confectionery products on the market that could be affordable for everyone.
After much experimentation, he came up with a soft hazelnut paste, much cheaper than chocolate, sold in the form of a loaf, easy to transport and designed to be spread on bread. This was an optimal idea for the needs of the many workers in those areas, who lived in poor economic conditions.
The hazelnut cream was so successful among the many workers in Alba that it gave a boost to the Ferrero small pastry shop, which was established as an industry in 1946.
The work of the Ferrero family and the fame of that spreadable cream – which a few years later would be perfected, becoming known worldwide as Nutella – grew exponentially in the years that followed.
Pietro Ferrero died in Alba on 2nd March 1949.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Cuneo > Stato civile italiano > Farigliano > 1898
Archivio di Stato di Cuneo > Stato civile italiano > Farigliano > 1898
Elsa Morante was born in Rome on 18th August 1912 to Francesco Lo Monaco and Irma Poggibonsi. However, she was recognised at the registry office by her mother’s husband, Augusto Morante, from whom she took her surname.
She began writing at a very young age, devoting herself to writing fairy tales and short stories, many of which were published posthumously.
She began writing from a very young age, devoting herself to writing fairy tales and short stories, many of which were published posthumously. In 1936, she met Alberto Moravia, with whom she began a tormented relationship, but which led them to the altar on 14th April 1941.
In 1943, the intensification of anti-Semitic repression led Morante and Moravia (who was Jewish) to flee Rome and take refuge in the south, towards Fondi, where they stayed for a few months, experiencing a reality that was to become decisive for both of them in the writing of some later works.
In 1943, the intensification of anti-Semitic repression led Morante and Moravia (who was Jewish) to flee Rome and take refuge in the south, towards Fondi, where they stayed for a few months, experiencing a reality that was to become decisive for both of them in the writing of some later works.
Back in Rome, in 1944, Morante published her first novel Menzogna e sortilegio (1948), which won her the “Premio Viareggio”.
In 1957, she was the first woman to be awarded the “Premio Strega” for her second novel, L’isola di Arturo.
Later, starting in 1971, she began work on the most famous of her novels, La storia, published by Einaudi in 1974: it was printed directly in a paperback edition at the author’s own wish, so that it would be accessible to everyone from the outset.
Over the next decade, he continued to devote himself tirelessly to literary and other activities, but his health declined steadily and inexorably.
She died in Rome on 25th November 1985. Her ashes were scattered in the sea of Procida.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1912
It is worth noting that her biological father, Francesco Lo Monaco, a clerk, appears in the birth certificate as one of the witnesses and as ‘godfather’ would be known to Elsa Morante until she was 14 years old.
In the margin, the deed also shows the chancellery note marking her marriage to Alberto Moravia, which took place on 14th April 1941.
A little further down, there is another annotation dated 30th May 1941 stating that Morante, although the daughter of a Jewish mother, ‘was recognised as not belonging to the Jewish race’.
For more on the figure of Elsa Morante, see the entry in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani edited by Nadia Setti.
Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1912
Curzio Malaparte, stage name Curt Erich Suckert, was born in Prato on June 9th 1898, to Erwin, a dyer of Saxon origin, and Eugenia Perelli.
Even as a child he showed a restless nature, which led him to develop a turbulent personality, tending to be in opposition, in malaparte, as he himself wished to emphasise with the name he took as an emblem of ‘a controversial and radically polemical identity’.
Prato was the city where his first intellectual training took place and where he began his literary activity, which declined at various levels and in various spheres, including – and in a very productive manner – journalism.
He fought in both World Wars. He also became an officer, but without detaching himself from his literary vocation. Rather, the experience of the war became a crucial event, which greatly influenced his person, fostering his approach – intellectual and active – to politics.
Talented and enterprising, he had a prolific and bilingual pen (he wrote, in fact, in both Italian and French): among his most famous essays are Viva Caporetto! (1921) and Italia barbara (1925), while his novels include Kaputt (1944) and La pelle (1949).
His multifaceted and articulate figure allowed him to read reality at a deep and complex level, making him one of the most emblematic characters of the 20th century.
He died in Rome on July 19th 1957.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Prato > Stato civile italiano > Prato > 1898
Note the note in the margin, written in pencil, stating that the name change from Curt Erich Suckert to Curzio Malaparte was approved by royal decree on April 15th 1937.
For more on the figure of Curzio Malaparte, see the entry in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani edited by Marino Biondi.
Archivio di Stato di Prato > Stato civile italiano > Prato > 1898
Francesco Saverio De Sanctis was one of the most important literary critics of the 19th century.
Born in Morra Irpina (today Morra De Sanctis), in the province of Avellino, on March 28th 1817, as a child he was instilled with a keen interest in language and literature.
Over the years, thanks also to his early start in teaching and numerous exchanges with many of the most culturally prominent personalities of the time, he became one of the most celebrated authors and essayists of his time.
He was the first Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1861 to 1862.
He died in Naples on December 29th 1883.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Avellino > Stato civile della restaurazione > Morra (today Morra De Sanctis) > 1817
For more on the figure of Francesco De Sanctis, see the entry in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani edited by Attilio Marinari.
Archivio di Stato di Avellino > Stato civile della restaurazione > Morra (today Morra De Sanctis) > 1817
“Sora Lella”, whose real name is Elena Fabbrizi, was an Italian actress, a symbol of genuine, straightforward, typically Roman comedy. She was born in Rome on June 17th 1915.
Before her film career, she devoted herself to working as a restaurateur, and only around the age of forty did she take her first steps into the world of the silver screen, following in the footsteps of her brother Aldo, acting with big names such as Totò, Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroianni, Mario Monicelli and others.
The real success, however, came around the 1980s, when it was strongly desired by Carlo Verdone in several of his films. Under her direction, she won a Silver Ribbon as ‘Best Newcomer Actress’ in 1981, for the film Bianco, rosso e verdone, and, in 1984, also the David di Donatello as ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for the film Acqua e Sapone.
She died in Rome on August 9th 1993.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1915
Archivio di Stato di Roma > Stato civile italiano > Roma > 1915
Giovanni Gentile, born in Castelvetrano (TR) on May 29th 1875, was a prominent figure in the cultural and political scene of the first half of the 20th century.
A philosopher and pedagogue, as well as for his numerous exchanges and debates with Benedetto Croce and other exponents of the erudite circles of the time, he is remembered for being one of the co-founders, together with Giovanni Treccani, of the Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana, approved as an institution of national purpose by Royal Decree Law no. 669 (for more details and to consult the Royal Decree: Archivio Centrale dello Stato, Raccolta ufficiale delle leggi e dei decreti (1861 – 2012), R.D.L. 24 giugno 1933 no. 669).
Gentile was also appointed Minister of Education in 1920-21 and during this term was the architect of the school reform that bears his name.
On May 9th 1901, he was united in marriage with Erminia Nudi from Campobasso.
He died in Florence on April 15th 1944.
You can consult the birth certificate on the Ancestors Portal: Archivio di Stato di Trapani > Stato civile italiano > Castelvetrano > Nati > 1875
For more on the figure of Giovanni Gentile, see the entry in the Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani edited by Gennaro Sasso.
Archivio di Stato di Trapani > Stato civile italiano > Castelvetrano > Nati > 1875
Biase Martorella
My name is Gisela Astrid and I am Brazilian, but in my blood runs a strong connection to Italy. In fact, my great-great-grandfather’s name was Biase Martorella and he was born on July 5, 1859, in Lagonegro, in the province of Potenza (Basilicata), to Salvatore and Maria Carrano, who resided on Via Castello, about 200 meters away from the cathedral named after St. Nicholas of Bari.
I do not know exactly when Biase immigrated to Brazil, but I do know that upon his arrival his name became “Braz Martorelli” and that, from that time, all his descendants inherited the surname “Martorelli” instead of “Martorella.”
Biase presumably left for Brazil around 1882, the year he married my great-great-grandmother, Maria Filomena Colombo, who, although born in Brazil, in the city of Bonito (Pernambuco), on September 29, 1869, was also the daughter of Italian immigrants.
Thanks to the portal Antenati, I was able to reconstruct some events in their history: the father of Maria Filomena Colombo, his name was Domenico and he was born around 1823, probably in the hamlet of Battaglia del Casaletto Spartano, in the province of Salerno; while his wife, Filomena Isabella Amato, was born on December 23, 1837 in Sapri, where they were united in marriage on April 21, 1857. A few years later, specifically in 1868, Domenico and Filomena moved to Brazil, becoming “Domingos Colombo” and “Filomena Amado.” There they gave birth to some of their children, including my great-great-grandmother, Maria Filomena.
Biase Martorella and Maria Filomena Colombo were married on November 30, 1882, in the town of Bonito, when she was only 13 years old. Numerous children were born of this marriage: Salvador (born 1885), Domenico Astrogildo (born 1887 in Sapri), Audiphas Sofonias (born 1891), Maria Florina (my great-grandmother, born 1893), Josepha (born 1895), Humberto (born 1898), Filomena (born 1900), Julia Helena (born 1902), Alberto (born 1905) and Audifas (born 1908).
Restoration of photos of Maria Filomena Colombo, wife of Biase Martorella
My great-great-grandmother, Maria Filomena, died at the age of 40 on August 5, 1911 in Brazil. It was interesting to discover that although she was born and married in Bonito, she and Biase lived for some years in Sapri, the hometown of Maria Filomena’s parents, where they also gave birth to a son.
However, at a certain time, they decided to return to Brazil. After Maria Filomena’s death, Biase remarried on May 28, 1917, to Maria Barbosa, born in Monteiro (Paraiba, Brazil) on July 22, 1888. From this marriage were born: Zullina (born 1916), Helena (born 1917), Adalberto (born 1917), Maria do Carmo (born 1920), Eunice (born 1922), Jaime (born 1923) and Nivaldo (born 1924).
Biase died on July 19, 1938, in Recife, Pernambuco, at the age of 79. There he was buried in Santo Amaro Cemetery. In addition to his children, he left a huge legacy of descendants, suffice it to say that my great-grandmother, Maria Florina, his daughter, died leaving in turn 17 children. Most of my Italian descendants are merchants: for example, according to Biase’s birth certificate and his parents’ marriage certificate, his father Salvatore was a “coppersmith.” However, Biase was commonly referred to as “Captain,” as he was apparently a captain in the Pernambuco State National Guard.
I am a great-granddaughter of Biase, my paternal grandmother’s name was Maria Astrid, although she was Brazilian, she was of Italian descent. Maria Astrid was the only grandmother I did not get to know, because she died before I was born. However, I have always felt a strong connection, partly because my middle name is obviously dedicated to her.
Biase Martorella and Maria Filomena Colombo were married on November 30, 1882, in the town of Bonito, when she was only 13 years old.
Numerous children were born of this marriage: Salvador (born 1885), Domenico Astrogildo (born 1887 in Sapri), Audiphas Sofonias (born 1891), Maria Florina (my great-grandmother, born 1893), Josepha (born 1895), Humberto (born 1898), Filomena (born 1900), Julia Helena (born 1902), Alberto (born 1905) and Audifas (born 1908).
My great-great-grandmother, Maria Filomena, died at the age of 40 on August 5, 1911 in Brazil.
It was interesting to discover that although she was born and married in Bonito, she and Biase lived for some years in Sapri, the hometown of Maria Filomena’s parents, where they also gave birth to a son.
However, at a certain time, they decided to return to Brazil.
After Maria Filomena’s death, Biase remarried on May 28, 1917, to Maria Barbosa, born in Monteiro (Paraiba, Brazil) on July 22, 1888.
From this marriage were born: Zullina (born 1916), Helena (born 1917), Adalberto (born 1917), Maria do Carmo (born 1920), Eunice (born 1922), Jaime (born 1923) and Nivaldo (born 1924).
Biase died on July 19, 1938, in Recife, Pernambuco, at the age of 79. There he was buried in Santo Amaro Cemetery. In addition to her children, she left a huge legacy of descendants, suffice it to say that my great-grandmother, Maria Florina, her daughter, died leaving in turn 17 children.
Most of my Italian descendants are merchants: for example, according to Biase’s birth certificate and his parents’ marriage certificate, his father Salvatore was a “coppersmith.” However, Biase was commonly referred to as “Captain,” as he was apparently a captain in the Pernambuco State National Guard.
I am a great-granddaughter of Biase, my paternal grandmother’s name was Maria Astrid, although she was Brazilian, she was of Italian descent. Maria Astrid was the only grandmother I did not get to know, because she died before I was born. However, I have always felt a strong connection, partly because my middle name is obviously dedicated to her.
The rediscovery of these Italian origins has been very important to me: every time I acquire new information about my ancestors, I feel like I am saving a little piece of my history. I try to visualize them in the context of the era, try to understand their desires, and although it is a seemingly impossible task, I like to try to imagine them. Understanding my origins is something that is very fascinating to me.
I keep wondering what drove an Italian family to emigrate across the ocean, but I guess they did it because they were looking for a better life. Therefore, I think the Martorellas were very brave, because they had the courage to go in search of new opportunities.
So even though there are four generations between me and my great-great-grandfather who was born in Italy, thanks to him I can still see Italian traces in my family.
Photo retouching by Biase Martorella
Even, in our family we have an “inside joke” whereby whenever someone gets too nervous or talks loudly, we say, “I am Italian! I am a Martorella!“. And, of course, we say it out loud, with a very pronounced accent and a lively, typically Italian gesture.
We have decided that one day, when we get our Italian passports, we will spend a few days there to honor our ancestors and to celebrate the recognition of our Italian citizenship.
