Best Practices for Contacting Distant Relatives in Italy for In-Person Meetings

[datxcali]

Hey all.

So I've done it! I've found relatives in Italy. I hired a researcher who was able to determine that my GGM's youngest brother married late and had children late. They moved to a different location and I've located people with their exact names (via paginebianche.it) living in that city. I haven't absolutely confirmed that these are the exact same people, but my researcher is working on it.

These people are old now, between 79 and 89 years old, and are the first cousin of my grandfather (who is deceased and never met them, though they did likely meet his sister who traveled to Italy often).

He also found that another of GGM's brother also married late (but he was older). He moved from the small village to Rome. There are just a few people with the surname in Rome today and are likely his descendants, but I'm still waiting for confirmation on this.

I was just wondering if anybody has any advice on best practices for contacting them. My mother and I are preparing for a trip to our ancestral towns, as well Rome, next year. So it would be great to meet them!

I have read that some Italians are concerned that foreigners will be trying to take their land or something based on ancestral claims (and that the law actually allows this to happen). This is not my goal, obviously, and I'd like to convey that.

Has anyone had any success in reaching out and actually meeting cousins like this? Anybody have any tips?

[Italysearcher]

Check out my website for tips

[London82]

I found my Italian cousins and just recently met them in their hometown of Vicari, Italy last May!
We brought a translator who picked us up from the airport and drove us to their house.
It was an amazing experience they greeted us with open arms and of course a kiss on each cheek.. lol
My Italian cousin cooked us a home cooked Sicilian meal, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
I hope that you have the same experience. From what I understand Italians learn a little English in school so some of them did know a few basic English words.
I have attached a picture of me and my husband eating our home cooked Sicilian dinner with my Italian family!

Stephanie

[datxcali]

I found my Italian cousins and just recently met them in their hometown of Vicari, Italy last May!
We brought a translator who picked us up from the airport and drove us to their house.
It was an amazing experience they greeted us with open arms and of course a kiss on each cheek.. lol
My Italian cousin cooked us a home cooked Sicilian meal, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
I hope that you have the same experience. From what I understand Italians learn a little English in school so some of them did know a few basic English words.
I have attached a picture of me and my husband eating our home cooked Sicilian dinner with my Italian family!

Stephanie

That's awesome, Stephanie!

How did you go about contacting them? How far removed from you are they?

[lynnef]

Congrats, Stephanie! That's wonderful that you have family in Italy!

[London82]

I found my Italian cousins and just recently met them in their hometown of Vicari, Italy last May!
We brought a translator who picked us up from the airport and drove us to their house.
It was an amazing experience they greeted us with open arms and of course a kiss on each cheek.. lol
My Italian cousin cooked us a home cooked Sicilian meal, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
I hope that you have the same experience. From what I understand Italians learn a little English in school so some of them did know a few basic English words.
I have attached a picture of me and my husband eating our home cooked Sicilian dinner with my Italian family!

Stephanie

That's awesome, Stephanie!

How did you go about contacting them? How far removed from you are they?

Once I found out their last name I messaged people on facebook who lived in their town of Vicari, Italy with the same last name (very small town) and lucky me one of them was my cousin!!!
I told her I think we may be related and I had uploaded a death document of My Great Grandfather's sister (Merchiorra Murana) and she said that is her Great Grandmother..

I was stunned and so were they!! I also uploaded a picture I had inherited from my great aunt that had Italian writing on the back of the picture and my cousin replied and said we have the same exact picture it is of her grandfather!!! Me and Jessica my cousin in the pic are 3rd cousins, My great grandfather (Giuseppe Murana) and her great grandmother (Merchiorra Murana Colletti) were brother and sister.

FYI they were using an online translator to communicate with me as I was also. Below is the picture I uploaded to them and another is me and my cousin holding the same picture !!!

[London82]

Congrats, Stephanie! That's wonderful that you have family in Italy!

Thank you Lynne!

[datxcali]

I found my Italian cousins and just recently met them in their hometown of Vicari, Italy last May!
We brought a translator who picked us up from the airport and drove us to their house.
It was an amazing experience they greeted us with open arms and of course a kiss on each cheek.. lol
My Italian cousin cooked us a home cooked Sicilian meal, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
I hope that you have the same experience. From what I understand Italians learn a little English in school so some of them did know a few basic English words.
I have attached a picture of me and my husband eating our home cooked Sicilian dinner with my Italian family!

Stephanie

That's awesome, Stephanie!

How did you go about contacting them? How far removed from you are they?

Once I found out their last name I messaged people on facebook who lived in their town of Vicari, Italy with the same last name (very small town) and lucky me one of them was my cousin!!!
I told her I think we may be related and I had uploaded a death document of My Great Grandfather's sister (Merchiorra Murana) and she said that is her Great Grandmother..

I was stunned and so were they!! I also uploaded a picture I had inherited from my great aunt that had Italian writing on the back of the picture and my cousin replied and said we have the same exact picture it is of her grandfather!!! Me and Jessica my cousin in the pic are 3rd cousins, My great grandfather (Giuseppe Murana) and her great grandmother (Merchiorra Murana Colletti) were brother and sister.

FYI they were using an online translator to communicate with me as I was also. Below is the picture I uploaded to them and another is me and my cousin holding the same picture !!!

That's awesome!

Thanks for the info!