Genealogy in Colonnella
Tracing your Italian roots back to Colonnella (in Teramo province, Abruzzo region) begins with understanding which records and documents exist and where they are preserved. On this page you’ll find a clear guide to the civil, parish and historical sources available for genealogy in Colonnella.
Colonnella family history at a glance
- Region: Abruzzo
- Province: Teramo
- Type of records: civil and parish records
- Civil registration: from 1809 onwards
- Parish records: often older than civil records (in some cases from the 1500s)
How to research your ancestry in Colonnella
Thanks to its network of local experts, Italianside has developed significant experience in genealogical research in the province of Teramo. For this reason, over the years it has become a reliable reference for those wishing to reconnect with their Italian roots and could be a key partner in the success of your research too. You can read the feedbacks of our customers on our testimonials page
Our experts in Abruzzo region, conducted genealogy research on historical families from Colonnella, involving many surnames traditionally found in the town, including branches of the following families: Massetti, Rossi, Di Bonaventura, Giuliani, Moretti, Leteo, Di Biase, Lupi, Vagnoni, Pecchini, Di Felice, Di Lorenzo, Palazzese, Ricci and others.
Many info relating to families and individuals available in public and private local archives include, in addition to names and dates, further information such as occupations, the address where family lived (a great info if you plan to visit Colonnella!), and key social relationships within the community in past centuries.
The information in genealogy research derives from the archives available for on-site research in Colonnella and Abruzzo. During the previous activities, our local genealogists already developed studies, family trees, cross-referenced family relationships, occupational histories, deciphered or translated documents, residential patterns, and visual documentation useful to add information now forgotten to the history of your family.
Research activities may include all major sources available at municipal, provincial, and regional level:
• civil records
• parish registers
• notarial archives
• military records
• cadastral and property records
• historical and photographic sources available in private archives
Direct access to local archives and a deep understanding of the local context allow for more complete and accurate results. Research may be carried out using all available sources in both public and private archives.
ItalianSide research: Beyond Names and Dates
Italian genealogy is deeply local. It can’t be reduced only about collecting birth and death dates.
In Abruzzo, every municipality — including Colonnella — has its own archival history, record‑keeping traditions, and unique documentary sources. This is why Italianside is able to help you in your Italian ancestry research, through a national network of local experts, each specialized in the archives of their specific territory.
Our researcher who works in Colonnella and in the Province of Teramo knows how to navigate local civil, parish, military, and notarial records, uncovering details that go far beyond basic dates. By combining national coordination and methodology with deep local expertise, our researcher will bring your ancestors’ stories back to life within the history of the Colonnella community.
Civil Records (Stato Civile) in Colonnella
In towns and villages of Abruzzo and in Teramo province, civil registration offices were established in 1809. This means you can often find your ancestors’ civil records in the Town Hall archives of Colonnella from that year onwards.
(If your goal is to obtain Italian citizenship and you need official certificates from Colonnella, please follow this link.)
If you know that your ancestors lived in Colonnella during the past centuries, the City Office of Colonnella is usually the first place to start your family research. Our local expert can access these records on your behalf and interpret them correctly.
- Professions: discover what your ancestors did for a living.
- Addresses: find the street or house where the family lived in Colonnella.
- Family links: identify parents, witnesses and neighbours that appear in the records.
- Signatures and notes: see how your ancestors signed and read any marginal annotations.
If you prefer to contact the Town Hall by yourself, we suggest reading our genealogy tips for Italy. They include practical advice for research in Abruzzo and specifically in Colonnella.
Street names in Colonnella
The names of the street in Colonnella, can help identify ancestral addresses found in civil records, parish documents, and old family papers.
At today, some of the main streets in Colonnella are: CONTRADA SAN GIOVANNI, CONTRADA RIOMORO, CONTRADA CIVITA, CONTRADA GIARDINO, CONTRADA SAN MARTINO, VIA BONIFICA DEL TRONTO, CONTRADA VIBRATA, VIA DEL GIARDINO, VIA ROMA, VIA GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO, VIA XX SETTEMBRE, VIA MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI, VIA DELL’ICONA, VIA DEI MILLE, VIA DEL GENIO, PIAZZA DEL POPOLO, VIA COLLE DELLA CORTE, VIA ISOLA, VIA BELVEDERE, VIA CESARE BATTISTI and others.
If you want help to identify street names connected with your ancestors in Colonnella just follow the link below.
Population trends in Colonnella
The chart below shows the demographic trends in Colonnella from the Italian Unification (1861). Understanding how many people lived in the town over time is useful when interpreting migration and family movements.

Church Records in Colonnella
Church archives in Teramo province often preserve information that predates civil records. Parish registers include baptisms, marriages and burials and sometimes allow you to push your family tree back into the 1700s and 1600s.
In many areas of Abruzzo, parish registers began around the 1500s. These manuscripts are not easy to access from abroad and can be hard to read without specific training.
Our local genealogists, graduated in history and archival studies, can consult the parish archives of Colonnella on your behalf and reconstruct your family history through the centuries.
In case you want to visit churches, these are the addresses of parishes active today in Colonnella:
S. CIPRIANO – P.zza del Popolo
S. GIOVANNI EVANGELISTA – Via S. Giovanni, 132
Planning a visit to Colonnella
From our experience, if you plan to visit Colonnella we always recommend starting the research months before your arrival. This way you avoid spending your holidays in offices or churches dealing with bureaucracy.
Remember that archives are not open to the general public and officers or priests are not required by law to grant direct access to the records.
Thanks to the findings gathered by our genealogist before your trip, and the help of our local guides, you’ll have more time to plan the exact locations (family homes, churches, streets, cemeteries, etc.) you’ll visit during your stay in the city.
This way, you can enjoy the city and its surroundings, following in the footsteps of your ancestors for an unforgettable journey back to your roots.
Street names in Colonnella
The names of the street in Colonnella, can help identify ancestral addresses found in civil records, parish documents, and old family papers.
At today, some of the main streets in Colonnella are: CONTRADA SAN GIOVANNI, CONTRADA RIOMORO, CONTRADA CIVITA, CONTRADA GIARDINO, CONTRADA SAN MARTINO, VIA BONIFICA DEL TRONTO, CONTRADA VIBRATA, VIA DEL GIARDINO, VIA ROMA, VIA GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO, VIA XX SETTEMBRE, VIA MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI, VIA DELL’ICONA, VIA DEI MILLE, VIA DEL GENIO, PIAZZA DEL POPOLO, VIA COLLE DELLA CORTE, VIA ISOLA, VIA BELVEDERE, VIA CESARE BATTISTI and others.
If you want help to identify street names connected with your ancestors in Colonnella just follow the link below.
Notary records and other historical sources
Another important source of information is represented by notary documents, which preserve wills, dowries, property sales and contracts. These records are usually kept in provincial and State Archives and can provide valuable details on the social and economic life of your family.
Military records
Conscription lists and service records documenting physical descriptions, dates and places of enlistment, units and ranks held, periods of service, military postings, transfers, and movements, often providing detailed insight into an individual’s life beyond civil registration.
Cadastral and property records in Colonnella
Historical cadastral and land records used to identify property ownership, track real estate transfers over time, and confirm the historical presence of families within Colonnella. ItalianSide provides professional assistance in accessing and interpreting these records, where available.
Historical and photographic sources available in private archives
Historical photographs, prints, and documents from private collections—including ItalianSide’s archive of vintage images from Colonnella and Abruzzo region are available. Old pictures add significant value to your family history research and offer a real sense of the places where your ancestors once lived.

Professional help for research in Colonnella
If you need professional support from our local genealogist in the Colonnella area, write to colonnella@italianside.com or fill the form here. Our expert will study your request and reply with a research plan and a quote tailored to your family history.
Messages from other visitors in Colonnella
Here below you can read messages from other visitors in the Colonnella forum. If you simply want to discuss genealogy in Colonnella with other people, feel free to leave a message.







Hi,
I am looking for information about my paternal grandparents. Here’s what I know. My grandfather, Guieseppi Ripani, was from Colonnella. He was born in 1890. He had two brothers, Fiori and Natale. They all moved to Pennsylvania. My grandmother’s name was Elizabeth Triani/Triani/Troiani. I am not sure of her maiden name. She was from Marche.
Has anyone had any luck writing to the local church for information?
Hey Tracy,
Elizabeth is my 2nd great grandmother, and I have the same issue when it comes to her maiden name. I’ve found Domenic/Domenico and Lucia, but hit a roadblock there. I actually found this doing a search of “Ripani Colonnella.”