Venarotta and Gimigliano

Photos of  Venarotta and Gimigliano will never provide a picture of how very grateful we are for all of the people who helped us learn about our history, which culminated in a visit with a dear sweet couple who have been married for 60 years, and three generations of the Galanti family.

Venarotta is a city in the area of Anne's family (pop. 1,600) and where we first met with the city clerk and priest.  It is where all of the census and tax information is stored, and where we began our search for ancestors.  That search of course led us to Gimigliano, only a few miles away on a hill, and is the village where Anne's grandfather was born, and today is home to 200 people.   Fortunately, Mariana who works in Venarotta city hall and lives in Gimigliano, was able to connect us with family members (more about this incredible visit with family in a separate post).  For right now, we just have to express how very grateful we are for Clorinda Sabatini, she was our guide for about a day and a half, and even invited us into her home with her husband, Florindo, to share a home cooked meal.  Incredible.  Again, too much to share now, so we are just showing pictures of the highlights of Venarotta:

Thank you Mayor Fabio Silva for introducing us to all of the wonderful people in your town, we are grateful!

Anne in front of Venarotta city hall

Venarotta church where we met with Don Umberto Puglia to search records

View of Gimigliano from balcony of the Sabatini home

Part of the amazing hospitality we received.  During the long day, Clorinda invited us to her house for lunch with her family.  Lasagna, meats, cheeses, salad and fruit.  Fabulous!!!.

World War I war memorial in the city, listing an older brother, Luigi Galanti, of Anne's grandfather,

who died during WWI.

Anne with Clorinda, Fabio and Mariana from City Hall.

A chapel built to honor a miracle that happened many years ago, very special with fabulous artwork inside.  The miracle was a healing that occurred following an accident on the "curve of death".

Vino Cotto is a specialty wine in the region.  This is one part of a large and ancient wine making building.  This is actually in the center of town, and was such a treat to tour and taste some of the Vino Cotto shared by Fabio.  We could not take photos of the lace exhibition that we also had the privilege of viewing.  The works were so special, but because the designs can be easily copied and they are working on their website they asked us not to take photos.  These pieces were works of art.  

This is such a special place for several reasons.  Inside it is a church dating back to the first century.  It is incredible that the original columns and frescoes can still be seen - it is also a church for S. Francesco (patron saint of farmers, I think); but it is also a cemetery where one of our relatives, Maria Galanti, was buried and finally a portion is reserved as a hostel - which is better than many hotels i've stayed in, with a kitchen.  Simply fabulous!