Tomorrow morning I take an hour-long bus ride from Napoli Centrale to Avellino, the birthplace of my great-grandfather. My objective is to obtain a copy of his birth record, bringing me one step closer to the goal of becoming an Italian citizen.
For those of us with Italian ancestors who dream of returning to “the old country” — it can be done. Every branch of my family tree extends back to Southern Italy, to towns in Campania and Sicily.
My mother’s grandfather, Antonio DiGregorio, is my only male ancestor who did not naturalize and renounce his allegiance to then-King Emmanuele III of Italy. He was thus Italian at the time of my grandfather’s birth in America and we are all (my mother included) considered Italian by blood under Italian jure sanguis requirements.
For more information on citizenship requirements of jure sanguis:
http://www.myitaliancitizenship.com/
So, tomorrow at least one question will be answered.
If bisnonno Antonio was born in the town of Avellino, I can begin to collect his records relatively easily. I may discover upon investigation that he was born in a more remote comune in the province of Avellino. Given my extreme reluctance to drive in these parts, I would then write letters to the local archives.
Stay tuned!