The Radici Guides

Guide to Genealogical Research in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige: Archives, Historical Borders, Territorial Changes and Historical Names

Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige are two fundamental regions of north-eastern Italy for genealogy and family history research. To correctly trace your ancestors' birth, marriage and death records, it is essential to understand the territorial reorganizations, municipal mergers, jurisdictional changes and the use of different language denominations (Italian, German, Slovenian and Ladin) that occurred over time.

THE PROVINCES OF FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA AND TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE AND THEIR CHANGES

1. Province of Gorizia

The Province of Gorizia offers important documentary evidence for genealogical research. Historical records may be held at municipal civil status offices, State Archives, diocesan archives or local parishes, depending on the period and geographic location.

Historical background and international borders: During the twentieth century, the territory around Gorizia was affected by major administrative and international changes. Several localities historically connected to the Italian province of Gorizia later became part of Slovenia following the Second World War. As a result, civil, parish, military and archival records may be found in Italian or Slovenian repositories and may appear under Italian, Slovenian or German place names.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Gorizia (25):

Capriva del Friuli, Cormons, Doberdò del Lago, Dolegna del Collio, Farra d'Isonzo, Fogliano Redipuglia, Gorizia, Gradisca d'Isonzo, Grado, Mariano del Friuli, Medea, Monfalcone, Moraro, Mossa, Romans d'Isonzo, Ronchi dei Legionari, Sagrado, San Canzian d'Isonzo, San Floriano del Collio, San Lorenzo Isontino, San Pier d'Isonzo, Savogna d'Isonzo, Staranzano, Turriaco, Villesse.

2. Province of Pordenone

The Province of Pordenone holds civil status and parish records useful for genealogical reconstruction. For particularly early periods, it should be noted that the province was created relatively recently, and older archival references may fall under the Province of Udine.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Pordenone (50):

Andreis, Arba, Aviano, Azzano Decimo, Barcis, Brugnera, Budoia, Caneva, Casarsa della Delizia, Castelnovo del Friuli, Cavasso Nuovo, Chions, Cimolais, Claut, Clauzetto, Cordenons, Cordovado, Erto e Casso, Fanna, Fiume Veneto, Fontanafredda, Frisanco, Maniago, Meduno, Montereale Valcellina, Morsano al Tagliamento, Pasiano di Pordenone, Pinzano al Tagliamento, Polcenigo, Porcia, Pordenone, Prata di Pordenone, Pravisdomini, Roveredo in Piano, Sacile, San Giorgio della Richinvelda, San Martino al Tagliamento, San Quirino, San Vito al Tagliamento, Sequals, Sesto al Reghena, Spilimbergo, Tramonti di Sopra, Tramonti di Sotto, Travesio, Vajont, Valvasone Arzene, Vito d'Asio, Vivaro, Zoppola.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities and Historical References:

• Valvasone Arzene (Merger of Arzene and Valvasone): The formerly independent municipalities of Arzene and Valvasone were merged to form the current municipality of Valvasone Arzene. Older genealogical records may be held or indexed under the original municipal names.
• Historical Jurisdiction (Province of Udine): As this is a relatively recently established province, documents predating its creation may be catalogued under the jurisdiction of the Province of Udine.

3. Province of Trieste

Genealogical research in the Trieste area requires attention to the historical and administrative peculiarities of the area. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the territory was subject to significant political changes.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Trieste (6):

Duino-Aurisina, Monrupino, Muggia, San Dorligo della Valle-Dolina, Sgonico, Trieste.

Historical Background and Border Changes:

• Administrative Systems and Place Names: Historical civil and parish registers may have been compiled under different administrative systems and may show place names in Italian, Slovenian, German or other historical denominations.
• International Borders: Border changes following the world wars have a direct effect on where archival collections are held today.

4. Province of Udine

The Province of Udine has a complex network of municipal, state and parish archives where civil status records and historical documentation can be found.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Udine (134):

Aiello del Friuli, Amaro, Ampezzo, Aquileia, Arta Terme, Artegna, Attimis, Bagnaria Arsa, Basiliano, Bertiolo, Bicinicco, Bordano, Buja, Buttrio, Camino al Tagliamento, Campoformido, Carlino, Cassacco, Castions di Strada, Cavazzo Carnico, Cercivento, Cervignano del Friuli, Chiopris-Viscone, Chiusaforte, Cividale del Friuli, Codroipo, Colloredo di Monte Albano, Comeglians, Corno di Rosazzo, Coseano, Dignano, Dogna, Drenchia, Enemonzo, Faedis, Fagagna, Fiumicello Villa Vicentina, Flaibano, Forgaria nel Friuli, Forni Avoltri, Forni di Sopra, Forni di Sotto, Gemona del Friuli, Gonars, Grimacco, Latisana, Lauco, Lestizza, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Lusevera, Magnano in Riviera, Majano, Malborghetto-Valbruna, Manzano, Marano Lagunare, Martignacco, Mereto di Tomba, Moggio Udinese, Moimacco, Montenars, Mortegliano, Moruzzo, Muzzana del Turgnano, Nimis, Osoppo, Ovaro, Pagnacco, Palazzolo dello Stella, Palmanova, Paluzza, Pasian di Prato, Paularo, Pavia di Udine, Pocenia, Pontebba, Porpetto, Povoletto, Pozzuolo del Friuli, Pradamano, Prato Carnico, Precenicco, Premariacco, Preone, Prepotto, Pulfero, Ragogna, Ravascletto, Raveo, Reana del Rojale, Remanzacco, Resia, Resiutta, Rigolato, Rive d'Arcano, Ronchis, Ruda, San Daniele del Friuli, San Giorgio di Nogaro, San Giovanni al Natisone, San Leonardo, San Pietro al Natisone, Santa Maria la Longa, San Vito al Torre, San Vito di Fagagna, Sappada, Sauris, Savogna, Sedegliano, Socchieve, Stregna, Sutrio, Taipana, Talmassons, Tarcento, Tarvisio, Tavagnacco, Terzo d'Aquileia, Tolmezzo, Torreano, Torviscosa, Trasaghis, Treppo Grande, Treppo Ligosullo, Tricesimo, Trivignano Udinese, Udine, Varmo, Venzone, Verzegnis, Villa Santina, Visco, Zuglio.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities and Historical References:

• Fiumicello Villa Vicentina (Merger): Established in 2018 through the merger of the former municipalities of Fiumicello and Villa Vicentina. Historical documents may be found under the original names.
• Treppo Ligosullo (Merger): Created from the merger of Ligosullo and Treppo Carnico.
• Historical changes in Aquileia and Ruda: During the 20th century, Fiumicello and Terzo di Aquileia were first incorporated into Aquileia (1923) and later re-established as independent municipalities, while Villa Vicentina was merged into Ruda (1928) and subsequently re-established.

5. Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol

Genealogical research in the Province of Bolzano requires particular attention to historical sources, languages and former administrative systems.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol (116):

Aldino, Andriano, Anterivo, Appiano sulla Strada del Vino, Avelengo, Badia, Barbiano, Bolzano, Braies, Brennero, Bressanone, Bronzolo, Brunico, Caines, Caldaro sulla Strada del Vino, Campo di Trens, Campo Tures, Castelbello-Ciardes, Castelrotto, Cermes, Chienes, Chiusa, Cornedo all'Isarco, Cortaccia sulla Strada del Vino, Cortina sulla Strada del Vino, Corvara in Badia, Curon Venosta, Dobbiaco, Egna, Falzes, Fiè allo Sciliar, Fortezza, Funes, Gais, Gargazzone, Glorenza, La Valle, Laces, Lagundo, Laion, Laives, Lana, Lasa, Lauregno, Luson, Magrè sulla Strada del Vino, Malles Venosta, Marebbe, Marlengo, Martello, Meltina, Merano, Monguelfo-Tesido, Montagna sulla Strada del Vino, Moso in Passiria, Nalles, Naturno, Naz-Sciaves, Nova Levante, Nova Ponente, Ora, Ortisei, Parcines, Perca, Plaus, Ponte Gardena, Postal, Prato allo Stelvio, Predoi, Proves, Racines, Rasun-Anterselva, Renon, Rifiano, Rio di Pusteria, Rodengo, Salorno sulla Strada del Vino, San Candido, San Genesio Atesino, San Leonardo in Passiria, San Lorenzo di Sebato, San Martino in Badia, San Martino in Passiria, San Pancrazio, Santa Cristina Valgardena, Sarentino, Scena, Selva dei Molini, Selva di Val Gardena, Senales, Sesto, Silandro, Sluderno, Stelvio, Terento, Terlano, Termeno sulla Strada del Vino, Tesimo, Tires, Tirolo, Trodena nel Parco Naturale, Tubre, Ultimo, Vadena, Val di Vizze, Valdaora, Valle Aurina, Valle di Casies, Vandoies, Varna, Velturno, Verano, Villabassa, Villandro, Vipiteno.

German Place Names and Historical Background:

• Austro-Hungarian Rule: Before its annexation to Italy following the First World War, the territory was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
• German and Ladin Names: In earlier or contemporaneous registers, municipalities may appear under their original German names (e.g. Bozen instead of Bolzano, Meran for Merano, Brixen for Bressanone, Bruneck for Brunico, Sterzing for Vipiteno), as well as local Ladin names.

6. Province of Trento

The administrative history and numerous municipal mergers make it essential to check earlier place names and borders in the Province of Trento.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Trento (166):

Ala, Albiano, Aldeno, Altavalle, Altopiano della Vigolana, Amblar-Don, Andalo, Arco, Avio, Baselga di Pinè, Bedollo, Besenello, Bieno, Bleggio Superiore, Bocenago, Bondone, Borgo Chiese, Borgo d'Anaunia, Borgo Lares, Borgo Valsugana, Brentonico, Bresimo, Caderzone Terme, Calceranica al Lago, Caldes, Caldonazzo, Calliano, Campitello di Fassa, Campodenno, Canal San Bovo, Canazei, Capriana, Carisolo, Carzano, Castel Condino, Castel Ivano, Castello Tesino, Castello-Molina di Fiemme, Castelnuovo, Cavalese, Cavareno, Cavedago, Cavedine, Cavizzana, Cembra Lisignago, Cimone, Cinte Tesino, Cis, Civezzano, Cles, Comano Terme, Commezzadura, Contà, Croviana, Dambel, Denno, Dimaro Folgarida, Drena, Dro, Fai della Paganella, Fiavè, Fierozzo, Folgaria, Fornace, Frassilongo, Garniga Terme, Giovo, Giustino, Grigno, Imer, Isera, Lavarone, Lavis, Ledro, Levico Terme, Livo, Lona-Lases, Luserna, Madruzzo, Malè, Massimeno, Mazzin, Mezzana, Mezzano, Mezzocorona, Mezzolombardo, Moena, Molveno, Mori, Nago-Torbole, Nogaredo, Nomi, Novaledo, Novella, Ospedaletto, Ossana, Palù del Fersina, Panchià, Peio, Pellizzano, Pelugo, Pergine Valsugana, Pieve di Bono-Prezzo, Pieve Tesino, Pinzolo, Pomarolo, Porte di Rendena, Predaia, Primiero San Martino di Castrozza, Rabbi, Riva del Garda, Romeno, Roncegno Terme, Ronchi Valsugana, Ronzo-Chienis, Ronzone, Roverè della Luna, Rovereto, Ruffrè-Mendola, Rumo, Sagron Mis, Samone, San Giovanni di Fassa-Sèn Jan, San Lorenzo Dorsino, San Michele all'Adige, Sant'Orsola Terme, Sanzeno, Sarnonico, Scurelle, Segonzano, Sella Giudicarie, Sfruz, Soraga di Fassa, Sover, Spiazzo, Spormaggiore, Sporminore, Stenico, Storo, Strembo, Telve, Telve di Sopra, Tenna, Tenno, Terragnolo, Terre d'Adige, Terzolas, Tesero, Tione di Trento, Ton, Torcegno, Trambileno, Trento, Tre Ville, Valdaone, Valfloriana, Vallarsa, Vallelaghi, Vermiglio, Vignola-Falesina, Villa Lagarina, Ville d'Anaunia, Ville di Fiemme, Volano, Ziano di Fiemme.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities and Recent Mergers:

• Main Municipal Mergers:
  1. Altavalle: Formed from Faver, Grauno, Grumes and Valda.
  2. Altopiano della Vigolana: Formed from Bosentino, Centa San Nicolò, Vattaro and Vigolo Vattaro.
  3. Primiero San Martino di Castrozza: Formed from Fiera di Primiero, Siror, Tonadico and Transacqua.
  4. Ville d'Anaunia: Formed from Nanno, Tassullo and Tuenno.
  5. Novella: Formed from Brez, Cagnò, Cloz, Revò and Romallo.
  6. Borgo d'Anaunia: Formed from Castelfondo, Fondo and Malosco.
  7. Ville di Fiemme: Formed from Carano, Daiano and Varena.
  8. Terre d'Adige: Formed from Nave San Rocco and Zambana.
• Historical Administration: For documents predating annexation to Italy, research involves the administrative and cadastral structure inherited from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Summary Table of Territorial Changes, Jurisdictions and Historical Names in FVG and Trentino-Alto Adige