Radici Guides

Guide to Genealogical Research in Apulia: Archives, Historical Borders, Territorial Changes, and Official Gazette

Genealogical research in the Apulian territory rests on an exceptionally homogeneous and early-structured documentary heritage. Historically divided into the three ancient giustizierati and later provinces of the Kingdom of Naples – Capitanata (Foggia), Terra di Bari, and Terra d'Otranto (Lecce) –, Apulia has undergone profound territorial reorganizations during the 20th and 21st centuries. The creation of the new provinces of Taranto (1923), Brindisi (1927), and Barletta-Andria-Trani (2004), combined with the transfer of municipalities from neighboring regions such as Campania, makes it essential to understand local administrative history in order to correctly locate records in their respective State Archives.

THE PROVINCES OF APULIA AND THEIR CHANGES

1. Metropolitan City / Province of Bari (former Terra di Bari)

Historical capital of Terra di Bari, the State Archives of Bari preserve the complete series of Napoleonic (1809–1815), Bourbon (1816–1865), and Italian (from 1866) Civil Status, as well as Military Service Records. In 2004, the provincial territory was scaled down with the transfer of north-western municipalities to the newly created Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani.

Current Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Bari (41):

Acquaviva delle Fonti, Adelfia, Alberobello, Altamura, Bari, Binetto, Bitetto, Bitonto, Bitritto, Capurso, Casamassima, Cassano delle Murge, Castellana Grotte, Cellamare, Conversano, Corato, Gioia del Colle, Giovinazzo, Gravina in Puglia, Grumo Appula, Locorotondo, Modugno, Mola di Bari, Molfetta, Monopoli, Noci, Noicattaro, Palo del Colle, Poggiorsini, Polignano a Mare, Rutigliano, Ruvo di Puglia, Sammichele di Bari, Sannicandro di Bari, Santeramo in Colle, Terlizzi, Toritto, Triggiano, Turi, Valenzano.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Adelfia (Merger of Canneto and Montrone 1927): Established on September 29, 1927, by unifying the two ancient autonomous municipalities of Canneto di Bari and Montrone through Royal Decree of September 29, 1927, no. 1903 (published in the Official Gazette no. 245 of 10/22/1927). For records prior to 1927, consult the separate series of the two former municipalities.
• Poggiorsini (Municipal Autonomy): Historical hamlet of the municipality of Gravina in Puglia, established as an autonomous municipality by Decree of the President of the Republic (D.P.R.) of April 13, 1957, no. 352 (O.G. no. 138 of 06/01/1957). Records prior to 1957 are located in the collection of Gravina in Puglia.
• Castellana Grotte (Name Change): Named simply Castellana since Unification, it assumed its current name of Castellana Grotte by D.P.R. of January 11, 1950, no. 39 (O.G. no. 53 of 03/04/1950).
• Separation of Municipalities Transferred to the BAT Province (2004–2009): Under Law of June 11, 2004, no. 148, the major cities of Barletta, Andria, Trani, and Bisceglie were separated from the Province of Bari to establish the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani.

2. Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT)

Established by Law of June 11, 2004, no. 148 and becoming fully operational in June 2009, the province includes 10 municipalities detached from both the Province of Bari (4 municipalities) and the Province of Foggia (6 municipalities). From an archival perspective, pre-2009 historical documentation is preserved at the State Archives Section of Trani (for the Bari area) and the State Archives of Foggia (for the Capitanata area).

Municipalities of the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani (10):

Andria, Barletta, Bisceglie, Canosa di Puglia, Margherita di Savoia, Minervino Murge, San Ferdinando di Puglia, Spinazzola, Trani, Trinitapoli.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Establishment of the BAT Province (2004): Created anew by Law of June 11, 2004, no. 148 (O.G. no. 138 of 06/15/2004). It aggregated Andria, Barletta, Bisceglie, Trani (from the Province of Bari) and Canosa di Puglia, Margherita di Savoia, Minervino Murge, San Ferdinando di Puglia, Spinazzola, Trinitapoli (from the Province of Foggia).
• Margherita di Savoia (Name Change): Historically named Saline di Barletta, it was established as an autonomous municipality and subsequently renamed Margherita di Savoia in honor of the Queen of Italy by Royal Decree of March 13, 1879, no. 4799.
• Trinitapoli (Name Change): Anciently named Casaltrinità, it changed its name to Trinitapoli by Royal Decree of January 12, 1863, no. 1195.
• San Ferdinando di Puglia (Origin and Autonomy): A hamlet founded by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon in 1839 as an agricultural colony (San Ferdinando), detached from Canosa and became an autonomous municipality in 1848, confirmed with its current name in the Kingdom of Italy.

3. Province of Brindisi

The Province of Brindisi was established during the Fascist period by Royal Decree of January 2, 1927, no. 1, aggregating 19 municipalities detached from the province of Lecce (Terra d'Otranto) and from the municipality of Cellino San Marco. The State Archives of Brindisi house civil status records and documents from 1927 onward. For military drafts and Bourbon/post-Unification civil status prior to 1927, the documentation is preserved at the State Archives of Lecce.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Brindisi (20):

Carovigno, Ceglie Messapica, Cellino San Marco, Cisternino, Erchie, Fasano, Francavilla Fontana, Latiano, Mesagne, Oria, Ostuni, San Donaci, San Michele Salentino, San Pancrazio Salentino, San Pietro Vernotico, San Vito dei Normanni, Torchiarolo, Torre Santa Susanna, Villa Castelli.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Villa Castelli (Municipal Autonomy 1926): Hamlet historically belonging to the municipality of Francavilla Fontana, it was established as an autonomous municipality by Royal Decree of February 11, 1926, no. 308 (O.G. no. 53 of 03/05/1926).
• San Michele Salentino (Municipal Autonomy 1928): Detached from the municipality of San Vito dei Normanni and established as an autonomous municipality by Royal Decree of October 25, 1928, no. 2562 (O.G. no. 278 of 11/30/1928).
• Ceglie Messapica (Name Change): Named Ceglie Messapico in the 19th century, it corrected its name to Ceglie Messapica by Royal Decree of October 10, 1864, no. 1989.
• San Vito dei Normanni (Name Change): Known until 1863 as San Vito degli Schiavoni, it assumed its current name by Royal Decree of November 13, 1863, no. 1537.

4. Province of Foggia (Capitanata)

Corresponding to the historical administrative region of Capitanata (with its capital transferred from Lucera to Foggia in 1806 by Joseph Bonaparte), the province possesses a wealth of archival records housed at the State Archives of Foggia and the Branch Section of Lucera. Capitanata underwent significant territorial changes, including the addition of Campanian municipalities (from the province of Avellino) and the transfer of 6 municipalities to the BAT province in 2004.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Foggia (61):

Accadia, Alberona, Anzano di Puglia, Apricena, Ascoli Satriano, Biccari, Bovino, Cagnano Varano, Candela, Carapelle, Carlantino, Carpino, Casalnuovo Monterotaro, Casalvecchio di Puglia, Castelnuovo della Daunia, Celenza Valfortore, Celle di San Vito, Cerignola, Chieuti, Deliceto, Faeto, Foggia, Ischitella, Isole Tremiti, Lesina, Lucera, Manfredonia, Mattinata, Monteleone di Puglia, Monte Sant'Angelo, Ordona, Orsara di Puglia, Orta Nova, Panni, Peschici, Pietramontecorvino, Poggio Imperiale, Rignano Garganico, Rocchetta Sant'Antonio, Rodi Garganico, Roseto Valfortore, San Giovanni Rotondo, San Marco in Lamis, San Marco la Catola, San Nicandro Garganico, San Paolo di Civitate, San Severo, Sant'Agata di Puglia, Serracapriola, Stornara, Stornarella, Torremaggiore, Troia, Vico del Gargano, Vieste, Volturara Appula, Volturino, Zapponeta.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Orsara di Puglia and Rocchetta Sant'Antonio (Interregional Transfer Campania -> Apulia):
  • Orsara di Puglia (named Orsara Dauna until 1927) was detached from the Province of Avellino (Campania) and attached to the Province of Foggia (Apulia) by Royal Decree of January 2, 1927, no. 1.
  • Rocchetta Sant'Antonio also belonged to the Province of Avellino (Campania) and was transferred to the Province of Foggia in 1940 by Royal Decree of August 13, 1940, no. 1330 (O.G. no. 228 of 09/28/1940). Draft lists and records prior to those dates are located at the State Archives of Avellino.
• Zapponeta (Municipal Autonomy 1975): Historical agricultural hamlet of Manfredonia, established as an autonomous municipality by Regional Law of Apulia of May 13, 1975, no. 42.
• Mattinata (Municipal Autonomy 1955): Detached from Monte Sant'Angelo and established as an autonomous municipality by D.P.R. of August 4, 1955, no. 866 (O.G. no. 226 of 09/30/1955).
• Ordona and Carapelle (The Five Royal Sites): Hamlets created during the Bourbon land reclamations: Carapelle became an autonomous municipality in 1957 (D.P.R. of January 25, 1957, no. 257), while Ordona detached from Orta Nova in 1975 (Regional Law of Apulia of May 13, 1975, no. 43).
• Isole Tremiti (Municipal Autonomy 1932): Formerly a hamlet capital of the municipality of Manfredonia, they were constituted as an autonomous municipality in 1932.

5. Province of Lecce (Terra d'Otranto)

Historical heart of Terra d'Otranto, the province of Lecce originally included the entire Salento region (including the territories of Brindisi and Taranto). The State Archives of Lecce preserve a monumental collection including Napoleonic (1809–1815), Bourbon (1816–1865), and Italian Civil Status, as well as Draft Lists for all of Salento until the provincial splits of 1923 and 1927.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Lecce (96):

Alessano, Alezio, Alliste, Andrano, Aradeo, Arnesano, Bagnolo del Salento, Botrugno, Calimera, Campi Salentina, Cannole, Caprarica di Lecce, Carmiano, Carpignano Salentino, Casarano, Castri di Lecce, Castrignano de' Greci, Castrignano del Capo, Castro, Cavallino, Collepasso, Copertino, Corigliano d'Otranto, Corsano, Cursi, Cutrofiano, Diso, Gagliano del Capo, Galatina, Galatone, Gallipoli, Giuggianello, Giurdignano, Guagnano, Lecce, Lequile, Leverano, Lizzanello, Maglie, Martano, Martignano, Matino, Melendugno, Melpignano, Miggiano, Minervino di Lecce, Monteroni di Lecce, Montesano Salentino, Morciano di Leuca, Muro Leccese, Nardò, Neviano, Nociglia, Novoli, Ortelle, Otranto, Palmariggi, Parabita, Patù, Poggiardo, Porto Cesareo, Presicce-Acquarica, Racale, Scorrano, Seclì, Sogliano Cavour, Soleto, Specchia, Spongano, Squinzano, Sternatia, Supersano, Surbo, Taurisano, Taviano, Tiggiano, Trepuzzi, Tricase, Tuglie, Ugento, Uggiano la Chiesa, Veglie, Vernole, Zollino.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Presicce-Acquarica (Municipal Merger 2019): Established on January 1, 2019, from the merger of the former autonomous municipalities of Acquarica del Capo and Presicce pursuant to Regional Law of Apulia of December 28, 2018, no. 63 (O.G. 3rd Special Series no. 14 of 04/06/2019).
• Porto Cesareo (Municipal Autonomy 1975): Important seaside village of Nardò, established as an autonomous municipality by Regional Law of Apulia of May 16, 1975, no. 44. Records prior to 1975 are at the Municipality of Nardò.
• Castro (Municipal Autonomy 1978): Hamlet of the municipality of Diso, detached and reconstituted as an autonomous municipality by Regional Law of Apulia of April 10, 1978, no. 16.
• Alezio (Name Change): Named Villa Picciotti until 1873, it changed its name to Alezio by Royal Decree of March 27, 1873, no. 1358.
• Splits of the Provinces of Taranto (1923) and Brindisi (1927): Until 1923, the Province of Lecce encompassed the territories of Taranto and Brindisi as well. Draft lists for those born in the entire Terra d'Otranto prior to their respective splits are located solely in Lecce.

6. Province of Taranto (former Jonica Province)

Established in 1923 by detachment from the historical Terra d'Otranto (Lecce) under the name of Jonica Province, it assumed the name Province of Taranto in 1951. The State Archives of Taranto preserve civil status and administrative records produced from 1923 onward, while for earlier periods one must consult the collections of the State Archives of Lecce.

Current Municipalities of the Province of Taranto (29):

Avetrana, Carosino, Castellaneta, Crispiano, Faggiano, Fragagnano, Ginosa, Grottaglie, Laterza, Leporano, Lizzano, Manduria, Martina Franca, Maruggio, Massafra, Monteiasi, Montemesola, Monteparano, Mottola, Palagianello, Palagiano, Pulsano, Roccaforzata, San Giorgio Ionico, San Marzano di San Giuseppe, Sava, Statte, Taranto, Torricella.

Territorial Changes, Former Municipalities, and References in the Official Gazette:

• Establishment of the Jonica Province (1923): Created by Royal Decree of September 2, 1923, no. 1911 (O.G. no. 217 of 09/15/1923). Renamed Province of Taranto by Legislative Decree of October 21, 1951, no. 1184.
• Statte (Municipal Autonomy 1993): Historical and populous hamlet of the Municipality of Taranto, established as an autonomous municipality by Regional Law of Apulia of March 16, 1993, no. 6. Pre-1993 records are at the Civil Status Office of Taranto.
• Crispiano (Municipal Autonomy 1919): Detached from Taranto and constituted as an autonomous municipality by Royal Decree of November 14, 1919, no. 2320.
• Torricella (Municipal Autonomy 1954): Detached from the municipality of Lizzano and established as an autonomous municipality by D.P.R. of November 13, 1954, no. 1263 (O.G. no. 297 of 12/28/1954).
• San Marzano di San Giuseppe (Name Change): Named San Marzano in the 19th century, it changed its name to San Marzano di San Giuseppe by Royal Decree of January 11, 1863, no. 1140.

Synoptic Table of Territorial Changes, Province/Region Changes, and Decrees in Apulia