Palazzo Adriano

I visited Palazzo Adriano in May of 2007. It was the home of my grandfather. I found it to be a wonderful place. I spend two weeks touring Italy before I went to Palazzo Adriano and found that the rest of Italy was one big overpriced tourist trap (although there were mny places worth seeing). Palazzo Adriano was an unadulterated paradise, it was the high point of my trip to Italy. The people were warm, friendly and very helpful to the visitor who did not speak Italian (they did not speak english but we managed to communicate). The Hotel Del Viale was as good as any hotel I'd been in (at a fraction of the cost). There are at least two restaurants in town and a cafe. The food is excellent, local and resonably priced. The town is rich in histroy and culture and the locals are happy to share it with you. They have frequent religious feasts with big liturgies and processions through the town that are like walking back in history, or being in an early 20th century italian movie. I have no hesitation reccommending a visit to Palazzo Adriano for those who want to see small village Italy. It is a little remote but that's whay it is so good.

thanks for comments. Strange as it is, of all the places to visit, I just long to return to Sicily and some of these out of the way places. i prefer the out of the way places too. caio!

My grandfather and grandmother were born in palazzo adriano. I wonder if there is still an Alessi family in town ? Thanks for your comments.

Yes, the Alessi's are still there. In fact the former mayor of the town is an Alessi. The Alessi's are one of the old families in the village and the family is prominent in the history of the village. There is an Alessi home which has been in the family for several generations which is still there and occupied by Alessi's.

My grandfather Paolo Milazzo was born in Palazzo Adriano. I'm the family genealogist and would like to find out if there is any of my family still there in Sicily and how to research the family records. Would the church be the place to do this or the Town Hall records?

my guess is the town hall would be the place. I am hoping to return soon. I will find out for sure. Last time, the office was closed, we waited and waited, but I guess "Il Riposino Pomeridiano" never ended!

Please do not judge people by the way you think they look, and you don't even know what they thought of you, just by looking at how fast you went through this beautiful place without spending enough time to meet any of the Alessi's, like the former mayor. Palazzo Adriano is a very unique place in a region where nature is pristine, it is a "riserva naturale", you can also find there a great bed and breakfast 'a casa vecchia". People there are very proud of their unique albanese/sicilian heritage, but today's economic situation in rural Sicily still forces many people to leave this beautiful place. I suggest you go back there and spend more time and meet people.

what you say is true, about PA being a very unique place. that is why I am returning on my next trip to europe. Of all the places to visit, it is my priority. however, it is true that some of the guys hanging around in the local square looked more than just a little bit off. I am not being critical, I am just telling it as I saw it. sorry if I offended you!

My grandfather Philipo Masaracchia left PA in the early 1900's. I regret not knowing more of my heritage and as a youngster never thought to inquire and ask questions to my "Nonu". At some point I will go back to Sicily and spend some quality time in Palazzo Adriano. I'll probably hire a ancestry reseacher or at the very least an Italian translator. Please comment back here again should you visit Palazzo Adriano again.

Just wondering if you might be related to any Alessi's in Independence, Louisiana??? My Grandpa, a Grana, talks about the Alessi "paisani" down in Louisiana. He says they are cousins of his fathers family, the Grana's (now of St. Louis) but isn't sure how. Both of his parents immigrated from Palazzo Adriano, and I have these Grana's traced back to 1817, with the help of other cousins there (also related to some Masaracchia's) so I might be able to help you find more info. Everyone I have met there has always been exceptionally welcoming. It's really a beautiful and uniquely unspoiled place. Hopefully it stays that way . . . even as younger generations are moving away and tourists are discovering it.

Yes, my great grandmother was Giovanna Grana! They lived in Independence. We be paisani!!!

Hello!My name is Sara and I live in Italy. My mother and my boyfriend come from Palazzo Adriano and I go there 3 or 4 times at year (sorry fot my English). I am very surprised of reading your message in the Web. I didn't know that "paisani" in the world wrote about Palazzo Adriano. It's incredible!Very good!If you want informations about Palazzo I'm here!Where are you from?Do you Know somebody in Palazzo? Bye. Sara

I feel like Alice in Wonderland! I, too, have grandparents from Palazzo Adriano. I just stumbled across your blog JR and wonder if anyone is planning on going to Sicily. I, too, think that traveling alone in this situation is probably best but would love to have fellow researchers while I'm there. Thanks, Joan

This is a small village in Sicily? It is wonderful that so many are finding your blog and are finding this common geography from their ancenstry. I have great-grandparents who immigrated to the US from Palazzo Adriano. Surnames are Cottonaro and Cali. I have family info that leads me back to this village, but little before that. I would love to visit someday. Thanks for all the info. Karen

Just for info this is the town they used for the external shots of the town in the movie Cinema Paradiso.

My grandparents Vincenzo and Josephine Schiro also came to America from PA in the early 1900s. About 10 years ago I was fortunate enough to visit there and saw the house they lived in which is situated at the foot of the steps of the Greek Orthodox (I think) church building. The Schiro name is mentioned several times on the monument at the fountain. Beautiful place. Any one know much of the Schiro family in Palazzo Adriano?

My GrandMother is from Palazzo Adriano, from the Spallino's Family.

We went in December of 06 to visit my cousins. We stayed at Del Viale and they have a restaurant there. It was OK... Not great - not bad. I didnt go to the town hall but I did go to the cemetary right outside of town and its a really good source of info. I found out that one side of my family lived there briefly and since there was only one tombstone with that family name on it, they were from a neighboring city in San Guisepe. I will go there next time and research them. But my Bua side was there and I got to see my great great grandparents graves. VERY COOL!! My cousins left there toured me around the city and showed me points of interest and the church where my great grandparents got married. They have a shrine to St. Nicolas there and it was around Christmas so it was really neat to see. Cant wait to go back!

Oh yeah! One more thing... when I first went to PA in 1997 the church my cousins attend (Angela, Carmela and Guiseppe Bua) had a pastor named Father Frank and he spent about 10 years in New York with a church there. He spoke perfect English and when I needed anything he could get it. He told me that the public records only went back to a certain point and the old records had been destroyed in a fire. He said that the cemetary was the best way to research my grandparents and so thats where I got my best information. Plus I was lucky enough to find living cousins still there who helped me with that side of my Sicilian roots. How wonderful the experience was. We will always go back. Now my daughter can enjoy her history with me! Plus, I would add that prices have gone up considerably in hotels and food! But it had been 9 years since I had gone there the first time! The hotel was about 80 dollars a night for a double bedroom. The food prices were very reasonable but had gone up some. If you know some Italian people are willing to help you out even more since you will know how to ask for it so they can understand.

Oh my Gosh! I just stumbled upon this page while googling about Sicily. My grandparents and all of my uncles and aunt born before my father were from Palazzo Adriano! My father was the first child born once they came to the U.S. My grandfather was Guiseppe Grana and my granmother was Luchina Costa. I have found the ship's manifests of both my Nonu and then several years later of my Nana, uncles and aunt on Ancestry.com. All of them are gone now and all I have are the memories of all the stories told at Sunday dinners. My most fervent dream is to go to PA and see where they all came from and hopefully find out more about my family. I noticed Granas in St. Louis from an earlier comment and wonder if we are related? Also, does anyone know of any Costas in PA?

My Grandparents left in 1910 or so. I wonder if any family is left there. My grandfather was Pietro Cavallaro and my Nana was Anna Di Giovanni. I would LOVE to visit!

glad you found my blog! Actually, there have been so many responses from people whose roots are in PA that I thought of starting an online bulletin board! we could all have a big stateside reunion! my great grandmother was giovanna grana, and there is some discrepency as to whether she is related to the Grana family in St. Louis, as her name isn't on the census record of the Grana family. I hope to go to PA this September and get it all straighened out. great mystery to me!

I was born in palazzo adriano, then moved to new york. Its wonderful that there are so many palazzesi in america. Its a beatiuful place to visit they have the best cheese and water. learning about your family roots is excited. I still have family in pa and i travel somewhat often

are there any family by the that name live there may be my relative by that name.

Its a long shot but my family moved in the late 1800s. The name was Pillora. Has anyone run across records or may have been family of the Pilloras?

I want to visit PA this summer and I'll be visiting family near Caltanissetta, in the interior of Siicly. Does anyone know how to arrive at PA by public transport?

I know the bus runs once a day from Palermo. I am not sure what the schedule is from anywhere else. I hope to be there in Sept, but am going to rent a car. bus/train transport in Sicily is very limited, and there's a lot to see Buon Viaggio!

Luchina: Grana, Costa. My grandfather was born in PA. His name was Nicolo Alessi.He came to America around 1903. He told me that on the ship coming to America, that he accompanied a young girl from PA to the USA. He called her Nina. She was Nina Costa.For many years we recieved a christmas card from her. Could she be related to you ? Best Wishes, Tom

I was born in Palazzo Adriano, I live now in California, it is amazing how many people are interested in this little town, many of the last name mentioned are still around, Grana', Costa, Di Giovanni, Masaracchia, Alessi.......but be careful, even if many people share their last name, they may be not related......go to the COMUNE, or the Churches archivesgood luck....buona fortuna for information, go in the mid morning, they may get up late or take a siesta in the afternoon......

Yes, I remember going to the Comune in the later afternoon, and didn't have the time to wait around for someone to return. I am ticketed to Catania for the 8th of September, hiring a car there, then going to Siracusa, Noto, Ragusa, before I head toward PA. Any other destinations of interest please let me know.

any places of interest.....?Sicily...is all interesting....with all the people who wanted to conquer.....and live something of their own, palermo has arabic , byzantin spanish architecture, agrigento has greek ruins.....and also taormina e siracusa.....monreale by palermo has a beautiful cathedral, the mosaic are unique...and on and on..... there are many alessi and grana' still in palazzo, you may be related to some, some of grana' owed a' caffe'", nella piazza, BUONA FORTUNA....and BUON VIAGGIO.... P.S. Play around on the web, typing palazzo adriano you'll see how may sites and pictures are there.....

I spent 4 days in Palermo a few years ago, then went to Cefalu and Enna and then on to Catania via train. I felt so restricted, having no car. This time, going to do some serious 'meandering'. Have also been to most places you mentioned, Agrigento, Taormina, Monreale. I am planning to spend at least 2 days in PA, I am bringing my geneology record with me, to see if I can clear up some mysteries!! caio

I would like to reach Karen Moore who posted a comment on this blog Mar 10 2008.

I was wondering if you know the name of the churchs there? My Great grandfather Peter Scuriba was a sculptur who worked on one of the churches and my mother who is 92 cannot remember. I would love to find out and go visit someday. Thanks, Jeff

the churches names on the greek side are; MARIA SS. ASSUNTA, IN PIAZZA, SAN NICOLA, LA MADONNA DELLE GRAZIE, IN THE COUNTRY.SAN GIOVANNI The latin church es are: MARIA SS. DEL LUME, IN PIAZZA, LA MADONNA DEL CARMELO(CARMINE), ST. ANTONINO in the country side. there are many small churches in the country side...la pieta' is one of them. Hope I helped....go and visit is a very lovely little town.....

sorry, forgat......scuriba? may be SCIURBA??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!sounds more like a palazzese last name.....

The two main churches in the Palazzo Adirano are: Maria SS Assunta (Byzantine) and Santa Maria Del Lume (Roman). There are also a number of oratories in the town connected to one or the other of the main churches. Ron Pecci

Hey! It's great to read that so many people is connected to Palazzo. I'm from Rosario, Argentina, and my grandpa was born in Palazzo. His family had to move away in the earlies 1900s because one of the capomafia's son wanted to marry a sister of my grandpa, and my family didn't want to. As nobody supported them (the mafia blocked their commercial business and they had no way to survive) the ones who came here didn't want to hear about Palazzo. But we travelled in 1983 when I was a little child (my father, mother, brother and me) and when we arrived there we were treated greatly. We have there the families of my grandpa cousins: the Vetranos, the Granas, the Lalas, and the Buscarinos. Every time we go back there my father sleeps in the bed where his father was born. I still e-mail my "relatives" who has more or less my age (30), and call the elderly ones every 4 or 6 months. I hope to come back asap (I've been there in 2001 for the last time).

Post from August 8th, 2008 - Donna Bethel - I've bookmarked this WONDERFUL site and will watch for you. Thanks! Karen

Hello, In google upon typing my last name, Manrara, Palazzo Adriano came up. We are doing a family history and basically know we started in Sicily, some say Palermo, but cannot find exactly where. Perhaps the name has changed some but we know since mid 1700´s it has been Manrara. From Italy the Manrara´s went to Mallorca in Spain, Canary Islands also Spain and then Cuba and back again to Spain and now mainly in Miami, Florida. Please if anyone has heard of the Manrara´s associated to any town or city in Sicily, or Italy for that matter, please let me know. Thanks and good luck to everyone.

My husband's Great grandmother was Carmela Costa. She married Serafino Scramuzza and they Lived in PA. I just found some records and now we have a town of origin. We are finding a lot of info in the Family History Library archives.

SONO UNA RAGAZZA DI PALAZZO PER INFORMAZIONI PUO' MANDARE UN MESSAGGIO. SALUTI

SONO DI PALAZZO ADRIANO PER INFORMAZIONI MANDATE UN E -MAIL

Just returned from trip... have to admit I saw PA in a totally different perspective. First time, time was limited, and it was January. Town appeared sleepy and obscure. This time, it was September, and I had all the time I wanted. It is one jammin' little town, never a dull moment. Special thanks to Francesco, Nicola and Eduard(sp?) Grana who were so gracious to me while I was there! For anyone who visits, don't miss having lunch or dinner at Casale de Borgia Resort, and say hi to Nicola and his brother Eduard (sp?) for me!!

nice to hear you enjoyed your visit to palazzo adriano, where you able to find out which of the alessi are you related with?

Actually, no. No locals with the name Alessi or Grana could connect with any of my ancestors. Since the records before 1850 were destroyed in a fire, there are no existing records of my great great grandparents, although I did find birth records of two of my great uncles who were born after 1850. But when I showed people the geneology of my great great grandparents, no one identified with it as being part of their family. I joked that it was too bad, I had an estate worth many millions of dollars to divide among living relatives.... :)

My brother is here from PA and he gave me a dvd from comune di palazzo adriano. Its shows around the town,inside the beatiuful churches. It tells you a little history of the town and all the feasts that they celebrate througout the year. Just watching the dvd I can't wait to go again. I say great job to the Comune! the upcoming feast is november 11 San Martino.

I was given that DVD while I was there... and some very attractive tourism booklets, I wish they'd do some translating into English though

I just figured out how to publish videos, after looking at this, you'll REALLY want to go back, it's so full of life! http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sicily/blog-337223.html

My grandfather was born in the town of Palazzo Adriano in 1898. His name was Merchone (MIKE) Cicchirillo or Cichrillo. Came to the USA in 1910 or 1911 not real sure. Trying to find out if there is any family still in town. All so looking for any Glavianos my grandfathers cousins. Please contact me with any info. 949-637-3155 John marino 31441 Holly Dr. Laguna Beach CA. 92651 USA