Roman Holiday

Up until a few years ago, online Italian genealogy research was difficult, if not impossible. Not many records were digitized, and few governmental archives had websites with useful finding aids.

Thankfully, in large part due to FamilySearch <www.familysearch.org>, Italian records are easier to access than ever before. Record availability does vary widely by location, so a trip to Italy may still be in the cards for you. (What a shame! Having to take a trip to beautiful Italy…)

The resources available for Italian research online differ based on both location and time period, but a lot is available from the comfort of your own home. Grab some takeout from your favorite local Italian restaurant for a more authentic experience!

So let’s take a look at the top websites for researching your Italian ancestors, from the big-wigs of the genealogy community like FamilySearch to more niche resources just for “Il Bel Paese.” But before you do that,! (Good luck!)