The driving forces behind this migration were poverty, lack of work, war, and the desire to provide a better future for their families.

Abruzzese migrants not only left their mark—they built strong, supportive, and culturally active communities.

Argentina was one of the main destinations. The Abruzzese community is large and can be found, for example, in cities like Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Rosario, Córdoba, La Plata, Mendoza and Bahía Blanca.

These communities founded Italian societies, cultural centers, sports clubs, and even schools that still preserve the spirit of Abruzzo.

In Uruguay, they mainly settled in Montevideo and southern areas, especially between 1880 and 1930. Their influence can still be seen in cuisine, surnames, and some inherited customs.

In Brazil, many moved to São Paulo, Espírito Santo, and Rio Grande do Sul to work in agriculture, commerce and construction. Some rural colonies still keep ancestral traditions alive.

In the United States, during the great wave of migration (1890–1920), many Abruzzese arrived in industrial cities like New York (especially the Bronx and Queens), Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.
They founded mutual aid societies and community centers that still exist today.

They also migrated to Canada, settling in cities like Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal, and Vancouver, where communities of Abruzzese descendants formed in the 1950s and 1960s, drawn by job opportunities in industry and construction.

In Venezuela, during the 1950s and 60s, many Abruzzese settled in Caracas and other cities, contributing in areas such as gastronomy, commerce, and construction.

And in Australia, migration was especially intense between 1950 and 1970. The main cities were Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Brisbane. There, families preserved not only the language and traditional recipes but also religious and popular festivals.

Knowing where the Abruzzese settled outside Italy can help you trace the paths your ancestors took. In many cases, entire families dispersed across various countries, so expanding your search internationally can bring wonderful surprises.

Sometimes, even surnames were altered upon arrival. That’s why searching for original records in Italy can help you reconstruct your family history accurately.

Beginning the search for your Italian roots can seem overwhelming. Often we don’t know where to start, what information we need, or where to go. However, today there are many physical and digital resources to help guide you on this exciting path to your family’s history.

Start with what’s closest: your family. Talk to your grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts. Gather basic information: full names, approximate birth dates, towns of origin. In the case of Abruzzo, details like “Vasto, 1895” or “Lanciano, marriage in 1910” can make all the difference.

Participate in cultural activities
It’s also helpful to pay attention to Italian cultural events in your city. For example, every year in Buenos Aires, the Maratana takes place—a running event where, in addition to running, you can enjoy traditional Italian food and culture. There’s even a special booth for those who want to start learning a little more about their ancestors.

Events like this are excellent opportunities to connect with people who share your interest and to discover resources you might not have known about.

Where to Find Information

Once you have some basic information, you can turn to various sources to continue your research:

Online Resources

• FamilySearch: Offers a wide range of Italian birth, marriage, death, and census records.
   
• Portale Antenati: Official Italian government site with free access to digitized civil records from across Italy.
   
• MyHeritage: Genealogy platform with Italian databases and tools to build family trees.
   
• Ancestry.com: Similar to MyHeritage, with access to millions of historical records and family tree tools.
   
• Italea: A project dedicated to exploring Italian roots, with specific resources and guidance.
   

Local Archives

• Archivio di Stato di Chieti: Holds 19th- and 20th-century civil records. You can request searches remotely or book a visit.
   

• Parish and Diocesan Archives: Parishes in Guardiagrele, San Vito Chietino, Ortona, Casoli, and others preserve old baptism and marriage records.

Tracing your roots is not just about finding names and dates. It’s about reviving customs, understanding your surname, learning your ancestors’ trades and discovering the festivals they celebrated and the songs they sang. Abruzzo has a unique culture—from its cuisine to mountain legends, everything speaks of a past that still lives in many homes.

Additional Tips

• Gather as much information as possible: The more details you have, the easier it will be to find specific records.
   
• Research from the closest to the farthest: Start with your immediate family and move backward through generations.
   
• Ask for help if needed: You can contact Italian associations in your city or even hire professional genealogists.
   

🧳 If you can, travel
If you have the chance, travel to Abruzzo. Walk the streets of the province of Chieti, have a coffee in a plaza, visit the church where your great-grandparents might have married. The journey won’t just be geographical—it will be emotional, too.

Exploring your Abruzzese roots is a journey into yourself—a thrilling adventure. Because in the end, looking into our ancestors' past is also a way to understand who we are today.

Take the leap and dare to this wonderful adventure!