Giacomo Aversa Family of Naples Italy

Limoncello is a lemon liqueur produced in Southern Italy, mainly in the region around the Gulf of Naples and the coast of Amalfi and Islands of Ischia and Capri, but also in Sicily, Sardinia, Menton in France and the Maltese island of Gozo. It is made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water, and sugar. It is bright yellow in color, sweet and lemony, but not sour since it contains no lemon juice. Also, Pizza was invented in Naples

True, Naples could be considered as chaotic, with cars and vespas racing around the city not paying attention to traffic lights. It could also be considered as corrupt or dangerous by some, with gang warfare by the Camorra (Neapolitan Mafia) still operating here, and teenage street boys that mug people by snatching their bags while scooting past on vespas .

Many northern Italians vacation here to remind themselves of the time when Italy was molto italiano -- really Italian.

The Town of Sorrento on the Gulf of Naples

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ITALY BACKGROUND

Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.

There are some misconceptions, which may adversely influence your perspective of Italy. An example of this is the impression that the Italian North was always wealthier than the South, and that this economic disparity prompted millions of southerners to emigrate. In fact, Naples was the most prosperous and populous of the Italian cities until its annexation to the new Kingdom of Italy in 1860. The second wealthiest Italian city of that era was not Rome, Turin or Milan, but Palermo. It was partly because of the North's relative poverty that most Italians to emigrate before circa 1880 were from northern regions. Around that period, the artificially bolstered economy of the Kingdom of Italy began to favor the North at the expense of the South, and by 1900 most emigrants were from the South, which by then was less industrialized than the North.

Air Raids on Naples, Italy during World War II

Naples was the most bombed Italian city in World War II; the primary targets were the port facilities at the extreme eastern end of the Port of Naples as well as the rail, industrial and petroleum facilities in the eastern part of the city and the steel mill to the west, in Bagnoli. The air-raids were coordinated to assist the British desert war against Italian forces in North Africa. Eighty percent of the Axis supplies reinforcing the troops reaching the Libyan front were sent via Naples. Heavy raids started with the American bombings on 4 December 1942. Estimates of civilian casualties run to about 20,000 killed. The raids were in the daylight and were massive. The raids lasted until the armistice with Italy on August 8, 1943.

Napoli Sotterranea

The Aversa family women and children used this bomb shelter during War World II. It was built by transforming the twisting mazes of the ancient city aqueduct, from 600 BC.The wells were turned into numerous narrow stairways; the cisterns became bomb shelters equipped with electric power, small folding beds and lavatories. Thousands of people found refuge in the ancient water tanks.

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ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions* (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma); Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia*, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna*, Sicilia*, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige*, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta*, Veneto

RELIGIONS

Approximately 90% Roman Catholic (about one-third regularly attend services); mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community

Constructed in the 1300’s in the gothic style, the Duomo is Naples first Christian Basilica. Located on Via Duomo (Cathedral Street) it is the Cathedral of Naples, seat for the Cardinal and for the Treasure of San Gennaro, the patron saint of the city. Here it happens twice a year: the first Sunday of May and 19 September the Miracle of San Gennaro(the feast of San Gennaro), when the Martyr's blood (saved into an ampulla) liquefies, announcing that there will be no calamities for Neapolitans.

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ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, welfare-dependent, agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported. Italy has moved slowly, however, on implementing needed structural reforms, such as lightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy's rigid labor market and over-generous pension system, because of the current economic slowdown and opposition from labor unions.

Historical old Naples with its long, narrow, cobbled stone roads that can be found, especially in the historic centre (centro storico) filled with washing hanging, vespas, street urchins or 'scugnizzi' as they are called. A strong whiff of espresso spilling from tiny bars...the earthy scent of roasting chestnuts...kids playing soccer in the street. Here a fresh fish store...butcher...a lingerie store...a pizzeria with wood oven glowing red, limoncello liqueur in a grocery store - but turn the corner or just happen to glance upwards and you could suddenly find yourself looking at the most beautiful church you have ever seen.

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PIAZZA PLEBISCITO with the Basilica dedicated to San Francesco di Paola.

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Midi start & stop

"Torna a Surriento or Come Back to Sorrento"

In Italian

Guarda il mare com´e bello! Spira tanto sentimento. Come il tuo soave accento, Che me desto fa sognar. Senti come illeve salle, Dai giardini odor d´aranci, Un perfumo non v´ha eguale Per chi palpita di amore. E tu dice parto addio, T´allontani dal mio core, Questa terra del amor´, Hai la forza di lasciar. Ma non mi fuggir, Non dar mi piu tormento, Torna a Surriento Non farmi morir.

Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) is the name of that part of Naples promenade in front of Castel dell'Ovo. Until the 16th century it was only a fishermen suburb, but in 1599 the Spanish Viceroy of Naples decided to transform it into a prestigious road in Naples

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Aversa Family Favorite Web sites: Click on the links below!!

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Click this link to see Video of Napoli

Click this link to hear ---- "Santa Lucia" by Enrico Caruso

Click this link to hear ---- "Funiculi funicula"

Click this link to hear ---- "O Sole Mio" by Enrico Caruso

Click this link to hear ---- "Return to Sorrento" or Torna a Surriento

Click this link to hear ---- "A Marechiare"

Click this link to hear --- more "NEAPOLITAN MUSIC"

Introduction to Italian Genealogy Web site

Calabria Web site

Sicilian Family Web site

Microfilmed Copies of Italian Birth, Marriages and Death

Italian Genealogy Letter-Writing Guide (Example in English-Translated into Italian)

International Currency Express (Pay for Genealogy Reseach with Italian Money Draft)

Finding Italian Roots

Italian Genealogical Records

Pursuing our Italian Names Together Web site

Video Europeans vs Italians

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--------------- Example Only ----------------ANCESTOR NUMBERING EXAMPLE

The following example shows the numbering conventions which appear in this ancestor report

2. John2 Smith6 [17], born 17 Feb 1849 in New York, NY, died 3 Jan 19307, son of 4. Herman Smith and 5. Margaret Sampson. He married 30 Jun 1870 3. Mary Jones, daughter of 6. Albert Jones and 7. Samantha Wiggins. Their children were: i Bobby1 [43] 1 ii Susan1 [44], born 25 Dec 1871. 6Smith Family Bible, p. 2 7U.S. Social Security Death Index

Explanation:

John2 John Smith is an ancestor of generation number two.

Smith6 Citation6 referring to source of information.

[17] Record Identification Number (RIN)

died 3 Jan 19307 Citation7 referring to source of information for this event.

4. Herman Smith Find ancestor Herman Smith at paragraph number (4.).

1 ii Susan1 [44]

Find Susan at paragraph number (1). She is the second (ii) child in the family, and of the first (1) generation. Susan's RIN number is [44].

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But As For Me And My House We Will Serve The Lord: Joshua 24:15