Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Part 1: Famiglia in Sicilia

Up early at 6:30am. Quick showers and then Renato arrives to take us off to Cianciana to meet his family, our famiglia!

Cianciana is about an hour from Sciacca. We travel along the coast and then up into the hills past old railroad stations and herds of pecora (sheep) grazing up on the steep hillsides. The mix of modern is present as well with the presence of wind turbines along the ridge. We hit rain showers but that is becoming a daily occurrence. 

Last time Joey and I were here in 2012 we made an attempt to meet family and did meet a relative Andrea Giannone the owner of Cortile Halykos Ristorante and Pizzeria housed in a 700 year old Arab marketplace structure that he and his family restored. Then connections made online through Onafrio Perzia we met Renato whose grandfather Bernardo was the brother of our grandfather Calogero. Today we will meet Zio Salvatore, Zia Maria and Renato's sister Tanina her husband Stefano and their daughter Miriam. 

Upon arrival in Cianciana our first stop was the church that holds the final resting place of Padre Gerlando Re to offer our respects. Don Gerlando, brother of Salvatore, was a priest in Cianciana who was shot down in the street by a deranged man in 1949.

Then it was to the family home of Zia Maria, now one of the the family homes of the Zio Salvatore family to meet everyone! Zio Salvatore is the son of Bernard Re who was the brother of our grandfather Calogero.



(front) Zio Salvatore and Zia Maria
(back) Renato, Stefano, Tanina, Miriam, Joey and Michelle

2 comments:

  1. La Famiglia Re di Cianciana e Stati Uniti! :)

    http://www.joere.com/lafamigliaRe.jpg

    ReplyDelete

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