Info Dolomiti

I was recently researching the history of towns in the Dolomites, where my paternal grandfather's family was from. Most sites were in Italian, but this one is in English, has interactive maps, and things to do in the area of my first heritage quest.

Via Claudia Augusta Altinate

The ancient Roman road that led from the Adriatic Sea (Altino) to the Danube river, relives, after 2000 years of history, a new, fresh season. Conceived in 15 B.C. By the Roman general Druso Maggiore, adopted son of the Emperor Augustus, the route was designed to open a passage through the Alps during the military campaigns in Austria. The huge project was completed only 60 years later by Drusus's son, the Emperor Claudius (41-54 A.D.).

The Via Claudia Augusta can be considered as a bridge between different cultures, environments and emotions: it is a symbolic itinerary that crosses three countries (Germany, Austria and Italy) featuring an enormous variety of landscapes and traditions, art treasures and culinary specialities.

In the Belluno area, the route first crosses the Feltre, starting from Castel Tesino (province of Trentino) passing the towns of Lamon, Sovramonte, Pedavena and reaching the center of Feltre. Then the road climbs up to Cesiomaggiore, where in Villa Centenere is exhibited one of the two milestones of the Way, and then leadsn you to Busche. After crossing the Piave river, the itinerary continues through the towns of Lentiai and Mel, featuring its imposing Zumelle Castle, and arrives up to the Praderadego mountain pass which separates the province of Belluno from Treviso.

Worth a visit: 

• Lamon, Sovramonte and Pedavena; 
• Feltre and surroundings: the Cathedral with the archaeological area underneath the church yard, the old town with Piazza Maggiore square and Alboino's Castle, the Civic Museum and the “Carlo Rizzarda” Modern Art Gallery, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, the Sanctuary of the Saints Vittore and Corona in Anzù; 
• Cesiomaggiore: Villa Tauro alle Centenere where are on display the two milestones that marked the Way, the “Toni Bevilacqua” Historic Bicycle Museum , the Ethnographical Museum of the Province of Belluno and of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park; 
• Lentiai: Church of Santa Maria Assunta; 
• Mel: Piazza Papa Luciani square and the Zumelle Castle.

Sovramonte

Sovramonte, a set on Flickr

Sovramonte trek

no Bellotto

After walking around the cemetery and taking a picture of every Bellotto and Antoniol marker there was, I walked back into town. I wanted to find some old folks and ask them if they knew of a Bellotto family still in town.

I went into the local grocer and asked her to make me a panino made from regional products. I got a very satisfying salami and cheese sandwich. I told her about my quest and asked if she knew any Bellotto. She said she couldn't think of any, but to ask the older residents. She stood outside the store with me for a while waiting to corner someone, but the streets were empty. Then some people appeared down the way and she told me to go talk to them.

I kept walking until I saw the handyman I had seen earlier that morning working on a car. He was fixing some woman's window. I figured I'd sit down and eat my sandwich and wait for him to come out. He seemed as good a person as any to ask about my ancestors.

Eventually I mustered up the courage to talk to an old woman at her window. I asked her if she knew a Bellotto family in town and she said she couldn't think of any. I thanked her and went on my way.

Toward the other edge of the town, near where the bus picks up, there was an even older lady outside. I decided to ask her if she knew any Bellotto. She said there used to be a woman with that maiden name who lived up the hill but that she had died years ago. She said Zorzoi is only about 200 people and it's shrinking; everyone is dying and there aren't many children being born. She told me to go find Catina down the road because she wrote everything down and she'd remember. She took me by the arm and walked with my about halfway to Catina's house. I couldn't quite understand where she was telling me to go. I walked around and looked around, but I didn't have the courage to knock on any doors.

I walked back toward the edge of town and my new friend was still outside, talking with a neighbor. She asked if I had found anything. I said no. She told her friend about my quest and they both said to go up the hill and knock on the door and see if the daughter of the old Bellotto woman knew anything. They said they kind of remembered a Bellotto who was killed in the war, and I took out my crude family tree and tried to explain that Romano's brother was killed in WWI.

At some point the little old lady looked at her watch and ran off - maybe she had something on the stove. Her friend encouraged me to go up and talk to the woman with the cane (or the dog).

I went up the hill and looked around. I rang the first doorbell I found and a rude woman looked out her window and told me she knew nothing and couldn't help. I don't know if she was the right person, or just a housekeeper or something, but I scurried back down the hill and walked out of Zorzoi.

cimiteri

Once I arrived in Zorzoi I decided to head to the church to see if anyone was there. I got about a quarter of the way up the hill and found another church.

There was a man fixing a car out front and I asked if it was closed. He said yes and that mass was on Saturday evenings. I asked where I might find a cemetery. He said the old church on the top of the hill. So, I thanked him and hiked on.

The grounds surrounding the church at the top of the hill were pretty unkempt. I imagine the church is no longer in use. While I was up there the bells sounded; they must be on a timer.

The headstones in the graveyard were pretty weathered, but I did make out some names. I didn't see a single Bellotto though. 

While I was on top of the hill I saw another cemetery, on the edge of town, and decided to walk there. 

This cemetery was bigger than the one on the top of the hill, more in use, and the graves a lot newer. One of the most common surnames was Antoniol, which must be the correct spelling of my great great grandmother Laurrie's maiden name. 

Laurrie married Pietro Bellotto and they had five children: Albino (who was killed in WWI), Giovanni, Maria, Amelia, and my great grandfather, Roman.

I think I may have found my great great aunts' graves as well! The dates seem to match up, especially for Amelia/Amalia. 

Zorzoi

Dolomiti

I am an American mut – a quarter Italian, the most of anything.

My great grandfather, Romano Silvio Bellotto, was born in the late 1800s in the village of Zorzoi, which is part of the commune of Sovramonte. Roman’s father was Pietro, Italian for Peter. His mother’s name was Laurrie Antonil or Anonin.

Roman left Italy in the early 1900s, traveled through Europe, and hopped a boat to the USA. He moved to Pennsylvania and married my great grandmother, Giacinta DeBacco.

Giacinta is Italian for Cynthia. I called her Little Grandma, but apparently her nickname was Cinta (pronounced Chinta).

Her father, Antonio De Bacco came from Pedavena. Her mother, Angela or Angelina, was from Feltre. Her maiden name was De Pian, Dal Pian, De Pain, or something like that.