When Tom started planning a trip to Messina, Sicily, he had one goal in mind: to learn more about his family history. He knew the names of his great-great-grandparents—Girolamo Bottari and Concetta Bernava—but not much else. Curious to understand where he came from, Tom reached out to Sicilitude: what happened next turned into a powerful and emotional journey into the past.
Tom discovered that Girolamo Bottari was just 21 years old when he married 15-year-old Concetta Bernava in 1850. At that time, both came from hardworking families.
Girolamo was a carpenter, just like his father, Leonardo Bottari. He lived on Via Cardines, a street in the old part of Messina. His mother, Domenica Mancò, was listed in the records as a faticatrice, an old Italian word for housewife—someone who worked hard at home, raising children and running the household.
Concetta’s father, Carmelo Bernava, was a butcher (called carnivendolo in the old records). Her mother’s name was Catarina, but the last name was too faded to read. Concetta was also described as a faticatrice, even at just 15 years old.
One of the most touching discoveries was about Domenica Bottari, who was most likely Girolamo and Concetta’s first daughter. She was born when Girolamo was 23 and Concetta was 17. She was named after her grandmother, Domenica Mancò, following a common Sicilian tradition of naming the first daughter after the father’s mother.
Domenica was baptized in the Cathedral of Messina on March 7, 1852—a beautiful and historic church that still stands today. This baptism record helped confirm the family’s strong connection to the heart of the city.
Tom learned that the Bottari family later lived on Via Idria, a street that no longer exists. However, based on records and maps, it was probably located near the Cathedral and the nearby streets: Via Cardines, Via Università, and Via I Settembre (which used to be called Via Austria). These streets make up the old part of Messina, and many families lived there before the city was damaged by earthquakes and war.
With help from Sicilitude, Tom followed these same paths, walking through the neighborhoods where his ancestors once lived, worked, and raised their family.
Sicilitude even created a special itinerary for Tom, based on the places found in the family records. He followed the route through old streets and churches, stopping to imagine what life might have looked like over 100 years ago.
It was a powerful experience. Seeing where his great-great-grandparents lived, and understanding how they worked and raised their family, helped Tom feel more connected to them—and to Sicily itself.
He returned home with much more than facts and documents. He left with a real sense of who his family was and where they came from. The memories of his visit, and the people he discovered, will stay with him forever.
If you’re curious about your family’s history in Sicily, teams like Sicilitude can help you find the names, places, and stories that shaped your past—and might change the way you see your future.
Sicilitude Srls
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PIVA 02159430897 REA SR 473655
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info@sicilitude.com
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