Radici Guides

Guide to Genealogical Research in Sicily: Archives, Valdemone, Val di Mazara, Val di Noto, Territorial Variations, and Official Gazette

Genealogical research in **Sicily** presents unique historical and archival peculiarities. Subdivided until 1812 into the three ancient historical valli (Val di Mazara, Val Demone, and Val di Noto), Sicily was reorganized into 7 Bourbon Intendencies in 1818. Unlike the mainland territory of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, in Sicily the **Bourbon Civil Status** was not established in 1809 but entered into force on **January 1, 1820**. During the 20th and 21st centuries, Sicilian administrative geography underwent massive changes: the creation in 1927 of the new provinces of **Enna** (initially Castrogiovanni) and **Ragusa**, the name change of the province and capital of *Girgenti* to **Agrigento**, the renaming of dozens of municipalities (including *Terranova di Sicilia* to Gela, *Monte San Giuliano* to Erice, *Spaccaforno* to Ispica, *Biscari* to Acate) and the establishment of new municipalities (such as Petrosino in 1980, Priolo Gargallo in 1979, and the very recent Misiliscemi in 2021).

THE PROVINCES OF SICILY AND THEIR VARIATIONS

1. Free Municipal Consortium / Province of Agrigento (formerly Girgenti)

A historical Intendency of Val di Mazara, the province was named Girgenti since the Bourbon era and the early decades of the Kingdom of Italy. The State Archive of Agrigento preserves the Bourbon (from 1820) and Italian Civil Status. The most significant historical variation concerns the change of the official denomination of the capital and the entire province in 1927.

Current Municipalities of the Free Municipal Consortium of Agrigento (43):

Agrigento, Alessandria della Rocca, Aragona, Bivona, Burgio, Caltabellotta, Camastra, Cammarata, Campobello di Licata, Canicattì, Casteltermini, Castrofilippo, Cattolica Eraclea, Cianciana, Comitini, Favara, Grotte, Joppolo Giancaxio, Lampedusa e Linosa, Licata, Lucca Sicula, Menfi, Montallegro, Montevago, Naro, Palma di Montechiaro, Porto Empedocle, Racalmuto, Raffadali, Ravanusa, Realmonte, Ribera, Sambuca di Sicilia, San Biagio Platani, San Giovanni Gemini, Santa Elisabetta, Santa Margherita di Belice, Sant'Angelo Muxaro, Santo Stefano Quisquina, Sciacca, Siculiana, Villafranca Sicula.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Agrigento (Name Change from Girgenti 1927): The denomination of the city and province was modified from Girgenti to Agrigento by **Royal Decree no. 1140 of July 16, 1927** (published in the Official Gazette no. 162 of 15/07/1927). In records prior to 1927 the official wording is always "Girgenti".
• Porto Empedocle (Origin and Name Change): Historical maritime hamlet of Girgenti known as Molo di Girgenti, it was erected into an autonomous municipality in 1853 and renamed Porto Empedocle by **Royal Decree no. 1195 of January 12, 1863**.
• Sambuca di Sicilia (Name Change): Historically known as Sambuca Zabut, it assumed its current denomination of Sambuca di Sicilia during the Fascist era by **Royal Decree no. 2521 of November 20, 1923**.
• Cattolica Eraclea (Name Modification): Simply called Cattolica since Unification, the denomination was supplemented to Cattolica Eraclea by **Royal Decree no. 1916 of June 11, 1874**.
• Santa Elisabetta (Municipal Autonomy 1955): Hamlet of the municipality of Aragona, erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 2 of January 28, 1955**.

2. Free Municipal Consortium / Province of Caltanissetta

Established as an Intendency in 1818, the province of Caltanissetta was heavily downsized in 1927 with the establishment of the province of Castrogiovanni (Enna) and the transfer of several municipalities. The State Archive of Caltanissetta preserves civil status documentation starting from 1820.

Current Municipalities of the Free Municipal Consortium of Caltanissetta (22):

Acquaviva Platani, Bompensiere, Butera, Caltanissetta, Campofranco, Delia, Gela, Marianopoli, Mazzarino, Milena, Montedoro, Mussomeli, Niscemi, Resuttano, Riesi, San Cataldo, Santa Caterina Villarmosa, Serradifalco, Sommatino, Sutera, Vallelunga Pratameno, Villalba.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Gela (Name Change from Terranova di Sicilia 1927): The historic coastal city of Terranova di Sicilia assumed the ancient name of Gela by **Royal Decree no. 1139 of May 15, 1927** (Official Gazette no. 160 of 13/07/1927). In genealogical records prior to 1927 the locality appears exclusively as "Terranova di Sicilia".
• Milena (formerly Milocca): Erected into an autonomous municipality in 1923 under the name Milocca (detached from Sutera and Campofranco) by **Royal Decree no. 3034 of December 30, 1923**, it changed its name to Mateno and finally to Milena by **Royal Decree no. 1790 of December 4, 1933**.
• Cession of Municipalities to the New Province of Enna (1927): By **Royal Decree-Law no. 1 of January 2, 1927**, Caltanissetta ceded its important eastern district (including Castrogiovanni/Enna, Calascibetta, Piazza Armerina, Aidone, Pietraperzia, Valguarnera Caropepe, Barrafranca) to the newborn Province of Enna.
• Cession of the Municipality of Acate to the Province of Ragusa (1927): The municipality of *Biscari* (today Acate) was detached from the province of Caltanissetta and aggregated to the province of Ragusa in 1927.

3. Metropolitan City / Province of Catania

Located in the heart of eastern Sicily, the State Archive of Catania (with the detached section of Caltagirone) preserves an imposing heritage of Civil Status from 1820 to the present and matriculation rolls. In 1927 the province ceded several mountain municipalities to the new province of Enna.

Current Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Catania (58):

Aci Bonaccorsi, Aci Castello, Aci Catena, Aci Sant'Antonio, Acireale, Adrano, Belpasso, Biancavilla, Bronte, Calatabiano, Caltagirone, Camporotondo Etneo, Castel di Iudica, Castiglione di Sicilia, Catania, Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, Giarre, Grammichele, Gravina di Catania, Licodia Eubea, Linguaglossa, Maniace, Mascali, Mascalucia, Mazzarrone, Militello in Val di Catania, Milo, Mineo, Mirabella Imbaccari, Misterbianco, Motta Sant'Anastasia, Nicolosi, Palagonia, Paternò, Pedara, Piedimonte Etneo, Raddusa, Ragalna, Ramacca, Randazzo, Riposto, San Cono, San Giovanni la Punta, San Gregorio di Catania, San Michele di Ganzaria, San Pietro Clarenza, Sant'Agata li Batiati, Sant'Alfio, Santa Maria di Licodia, Santa Venerina, Scordia, Trecastagni, Tremestieri Etneo, Valverde, Viagrande, Vizzini, Zafferana Etnea.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Adrano (Name Change from Adernò 1929): Named Adernò since the Bourbon period, the city changed its name to Adrano by **Royal Decree no. 288 of January 24, 1929** (Official Gazette no. 63 of 15/03/1929).
• Jonia (Unification and Secession Giarre-Riposto 1939–1945): The neighboring municipalities of Giarre and Riposto were unified into the single municipality of Jonia by **Royal Decree no. 1826 of November 9, 1939**. In the post-war period the union was suppressed and the two municipalities were restored as distinct entities by **Lieutenant Legislative Decree no. 540 of August 15, 1945**.
• Ragalna and Maniace (Recent Autonomies):
  • Maniace: detached from the municipality of Bronte and erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 84 of January 14, 1981**.
  • Ragalna: detached from Paternò and erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 101 of December 3, 1985**.
• Mazzarrone (Autonomy 1976): Detached from the municipality of Caltagirone and erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 20 of May 7, 1976**.
• Cession of Municipalities to Enna (1927): In 1927 Catania ceded the municipalities of Nicosia, Agira, Troina, Regalbuto, Centuripe, Assoro, Leonforte, Sperlinga, Cerami, Gagliano Castelferrato, Catenanuova to form the Province of Enna.

4. Free Municipal Consortium / Province of Enna (formerly Castrogiovanni)

The Province of Enna was established ex-novo during the Fascist era with **Royal Decree-Law no. 1 of January 2, 1927** under the initial denomination of Province of Castrogiovanni, aggregating 20 municipalities detached from the provinces of Caltanissetta and Catania. The State Archive of Enna (established in 1954) preserves post-1927 civil status registers and copies of previous ones, whose original historical documentation resides in the State Archives of Caltanissetta and Catania.

Current Municipalities of the Free Municipal Consortium of Enna (20):

Aidone, Assoro, Barrafranca, Calascibetta, Catenanuova, Centuripe, Cerami, Enna, Gagliano Castelferrato, Leonforte, Nicosia, Nissoria, Piazza Armerina, Pietraperzia, Regalbuto, Sperlinga, Troina, Valguarnera Caropepe, Villarosa.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Establishment of the Province and Name Change Castrogiovanni -> Enna (1927): Created as Province of Castrogiovanni by **R.D.L. no. 1 of January 2, 1927** (Official Gazette no. 7 of 11/01/1927). The capital and province were renamed Enna by **Royal Decree no. 2387 of December 6, 1927** (Official Gazette no. 295 of 22/12/1927).
• Origin of the Incorporated Municipalities:
  • From Caltanissetta (7 municipalities): Castrogiovanni (Enna), Calascibetta, Piazza Armerina, Aidone, Pietraperzia, Valguarnera Caropepe, Barrafranca.
  • From Catania (13 municipalities): Nicosia, Agira, Troina, Regalbuto, Centuripe, Assoro, Leonforte, Sperlinga, Cerami, Gagliano Castelferrato, Catenanuova, Nissoria, Villarosa.
• Nissoria (Municipal Autonomy): Historical hamlet of Agira, erected into an autonomous municipality in 1926 prior to the transfer to the new province.

5. Metropolitan City / Province of Messina

Building on the heritage of Val Demone, the province of Messina has the highest number of municipalities in Sicily (108). The State Archive of Messina holds the Bourbon (from 1820) and Italian Civil Status series. During the 20th century, important unifications and subsequent secessions of villages and hamlets took place.

Current Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Messina (108):

Acquedolci, Alcara Li Fusi, Alì, Alì Terme, Antillo, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Basicò, Brolo, Capo d'Orlando, Capri Leone, Caronia, Casalvecchio Siculo, Castel di Lucio, Castell'Umberto, Castelmola, Castroreale, Cesarò, Condrò, Falcone, Ficarra, Fiumedinisi, Floresta, Fondachelli-Fantina, Francavilla di Sicilia, Frazzanò, Furci Siculo, Gaggi, Galati Mamertino, Gallodoro, Giardini Naxos, Gioiosa Marea, Graniti, Gualtieri Sicaminò, Itala, Leni, Letojanni, Librizzi, Lipari, Longi, Malfa, Malvagna, Mandanici, Mazzarrà Sant'Andrea, Merì, Messina, Milazzo, Militello Rosmarino, Mirto, Mistretta, Moio Alcantara, Monforte San Giorgio, Mongiuffi Melia, Montagnareale, Montalbano Elicona, Motta Camastra, Motta d'Affermo, Naso, Nizza di Sicilia, Novara di Sicilia, Oliveri, Pace del Mela, Pagliara, Patti, Pettineo, Piraino, Raccuja, Reitano, Roccafiorita, Roccalumera, Roccavaldina, Roccella Valdemone, Rodì Milici, Rometta, San Fratello, San Filippo del Mela, San Marco d'Alunzio, San Pier Niceto, San Salvatore di Fitalia, San Teodoro, Sant'Agata di Militello, Sant'Alessio Siculo, Sant'Angelo di Brolo, Santa Domenica Vittoria, Santa Lucia del Mela, Santa Marina Salina, Santo Stefano di Camastra, Saponara, Savoca, Scaletta Zanclea, Sinagra, Spadafora, Taormina, Terme Vigliatore, Torregrotta, Torrenova, Tortorici, Tripi, Tusa, Ucria, Valdina, Venetico, Villafranca Tirrena.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Historical Merger 1836): Established during the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in 1836 by unifying the two historical autonomous settlements of Barcellona and Pozzo di Gotto by decision of King Ferdinand II of Bourbon.
• Giardini Naxos (Name Change): Simply called Giardini since the Unification of Italy, it assumed the touristic-archaeological denomination of Giardini Naxos by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 52 of October 22, 1978**.
• Terme Vigliatore (Autonomy 1966): Detached from the municipality of Castroreale and erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 28 of June 28, 1966**.
• Acquedolci (Autonomy 1969): Historical hamlet of the municipality of San Fratello, erected into an autonomous municipality following the landslides that hit the mountain center, by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 42 of December 15, 1969**.
• Torrenova (Autonomy 1984): Detached from the municipality of San Marco d'Alunzio and erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 85 of November 12, 1984**.

6. Metropolitan City / Province of Palermo

Capital of Sicily and ancient center of Val di Mazara, Palermo possesses the most imposing archival heritage on the island. The State Archive of Palermo (locations of Catena and Gancia) preserves, alongside Bourbon (from 1820) and Italian Civil Status, the famous Riveli d'Anime and Property Declarations (1548–1811), an essential source for Renaissance and eighteenth-century genealogy.

Current Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Palermo (82):

Alia, Alimena, Aliminusa, Altavilla Milicia, Altofonte, Bagheria, Balestrate, Baucina, Belmonte Mezzagno, Bisacquino, Blufi, Bolognetta, Bompietro, Borgetto, Caccamo, Caltavuturo, Campofelice di Fitalia, Campofelice di Roccella, Campofiorito, Camporeale, Capaci, Carini, Castelbuono, Casteldaccia, Castellana Sicula, Castronovo di Sicilia, Cefalà Diana, Cefalù, Cerda, Chiusa Sclafani, Ciminna, Cinisi, Collesano, Contessa Entellina, Corleone, Ficarazzi, Gangi, Geraci Siculo, Giardinello, Giuliana, Godrano, Gratteri, Isnello, Isola delle Femmine, Lascari, Lercara Friddi, Marineo, Mezzojuso, Misilmeri, Monreale, Montelepre, Montemaggiore Belsito, Palazzo Adriano, Palermo, Partinico, Petralia Soprana, Petralia Sottana, Piana degli Albanesi, Polizzi Generosa, Pollina, Prizzi, Roccamena, Roccapalumba, San Cipirello, San Giuseppe Jato, San Mauro Castelverde, Santa Cristina Gela, Santa Flavia, Sciara, Scillato, Sclafani Bagni, Termini Imerese, Terrasini, Torretta, Trabia, Trappeto, Ustica, Valledolmo, Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Vicari, Villabate, Villafrati.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Piana degli Albanesi (Name Change from Piana dei Greci 1941): The famous Arbëreshë community, known in the 19th century as Piana dei Greci, was renamed Piana degli Albanesi by **Royal Decree no. 1197 of September 5, 1941** (Official Gazette no. 249 of 21/10/1941).
• San Cipirello (Autonomy from San Giuseppe Jato 1864): Erected into an autonomous municipality in 1864 by detaching from the municipality of San Giuseppe Jato (then *San Giuseppe dei Mortali*) by **Royal Decree no. 1729 of March 20, 1864**.
• Blufi (Municipal Autonomy 1995): Hamlet of Petralia Soprana in the Madonie mountains, constituted as an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 22 of February 20, 1995**.
• Scillato (Autonomy 1961): Detached from the municipality of Collesano and erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 3 of February 15, 1961**.
• Altofonte (Name Change from Parco): Until 1930 named Parco (or *Parco di Palermo*), it assumed the historical name of Altofonte by **Royal Decree no. 195 of February 12, 1930**.

7. Free Municipal Consortium / Province of Ragusa

Established ex-novo in 1927 with **Royal Decree-Law no. 1 of January 2, 1927**, the province of Ragusa groups 12 municipalities largely detached from the province of Siracusa (formerly Terra d'Otranto/Val di Noto) and one municipality from Caltanissetta. The State Archive of Ragusa (and the Modica section) preserves post-1927 civil status, while for records of the Bourbon and earlier unitary eras, reference must be made to the State Archive of Siracusa.

Municipalities of the Free Municipal Consortium of Ragusa (12):

Acate, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Comiso, Giarratana, Ispica, Modica, Monterosso Almo, Pozzallo, Ragusa, Santa Croce Camerina, Scicli, Vittoria.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Unification of Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla (1926): Until 1926 the city was divided into two distinct autonomous municipalities: Ragusa Superiore and Ragusa Ibla (or *Ragusa Inferiore*). They were unified into the single municipality of Ragusa by **Royal Decree no. 1 of January 2, 1926** (Official Gazette no. 8 of 12/01/1926), a premise for elevation to capital in 1927.
• Ispica (Name Change from Spaccaforno 1935): Historically named Spaccaforno, the city was renamed Ispica by **Royal Decree no. 1704 of August 23, 1935** (Official Gazette no. 238 of 11/10/1935). In pre-1935 Bourbon and Italian civil status research, the municipality is always "Spaccaforno".
• Acate (Name Change from Biscari 1938): Known since the medieval fiefdom as Biscari, the municipality modified its name to Acate by **Royal Decree no. 1383 of July 18, 1938** (Official Gazette no. 210 of 14/09/1938). Detached in 1927 from the province of Caltanissetta.
• Chiaramonte Gulfi (Name Modification): Named Chiaramonte in the 19th century, it supplemented its name to Chiaramonte Gulfi by **Royal Decree no. 102 of March 15, 1881**.

8. Free Municipal Consortium / Province of Siracusa (formerly Intendency of Noto)

Heart of Val di Noto, the province has a turbulent administrative history: following the riots of 1837, King Ferdinand II stripped Siracusa of its capital title, transferring it to Noto (until 1865, when the capital was returned to Siracusa by Royal Decree no. 2228 of March 9, 1865). The State Archive of Siracusa holds the Bourbon (1820–1865) and unitary civil status registers of the entire south-eastern area prior to the birth of the province of Ragusa.

Current Municipalities of the Free Municipal Consortium of Siracusa (21):

Augusta, Avola, Buccheri, Buscemi, Canicattini Bagni, Carlentini, Cassaro, Ferla, Floridia, Francofonte, Lentini, Melilli, Noto, Pachino, Palazzolo Acreide, Portopalo di Capo Passero, Priolo Gargallo, Rosolini, Siracusa, Solarino, Sortino.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Priolo Gargallo (Municipal Autonomy 1979): Important industrial center born as a hamlet of Siracusa (and partly Melilli), constituted as an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 8 of July 12, 1979**. Records prior to 1979 are to be sought at the Civil Status of Siracusa.
• Portopalo di Capo Passero (Autonomy 1975): Historical fishing village and hamlet of Noto, erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 1 of March 10, 1975**.
• Cession of Municipalities to the Province of Ragusa (1927): With the 1927 provincial reform (R.D.L. 1/1927), Siracusa ceded important cities including Modica, Scicli, Ragusa, Pozzallo, Spaccaforno (Ispica), Comiso, Vittoria, Chiaramonte Gulfi to form the new Ragusan province.

9. Free Municipal Consortium / Province of Trapani

Western tip of Val di Mazara, the province of Trapani has experienced continuous reorganization of its municipal territories from the 19th century to the present day. The State Archive of Trapani (with the Alcamo Section) preserves the Bourbon Civil Status (from 1820) and Military District Levy Lists.

Current Municipalities of the Free Municipal Consortium of Trapani (25):

Alcamo, Buseto Palizzolo, Calatafimi Segesta, Campobello di Mazara, Castellammare del Golfo, Castelvetrano, Custonaci, Erice, Favignana, Gibellina, Marsala, Mazara del Vallo, Misiliscemi, Paceco, Pantelleria, Partanna, Petrosino, Poggioreale, Salemi, Salaparuta, San Vito Lo Capo, Santa Ninfa, Trapani, Valderice, Vita.

Territorial Variations, Former Municipalities, and Official Gazette References:

• Misiliscemi (Establishment of the 890th Sicilian Municipality 2021): Established on February 19, 2021 by the detachment of 8 hamlets (Misiliscemi, Fontanasalsa, Guarrato, Rilievo, Locogrande, Marausa, Palma, Salinagrande) from the Municipality of Trapani by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 3 of February 10, 2021** (G.U.R.S. no. 7 of 19/02/2021). For all historical and genealogical research prior to 2021, records are found in the Civil Status of Trapani.
• Erice (Name Change from Monte San Giuliano 1934 and Secessions):
  • The centuries-old city of Monte San Giuliano was renamed Erice by **Royal Decree no. 1862 of October 18, 1934** (Official Gazette no. 269 of 16/11/1934).
  • From its vast agro-municipal territory, 4 autonomous municipalities were detached and created: Custonaci (1948), Buseto Palizzolo (1950), San Vito Lo Capo (1952), and Valderice (1955 via L.R. 28/1955).
• Petrosino (Municipal Autonomy 1980): Detached from the municipalities of Marsala and Mazara del Vallo and erected into an autonomous municipality by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 58 of July 21, 1980**.
• Calatafimi Segesta (Name Integration): Named Calatafimi, it integrated its official name into Calatafimi Segesta by **Regional Law of Sicily no. 5 of March 15, 1999**.

Synoptic Table of Territorial Variations, Province Changes, and Decrees in Sicily