What is the farthest back in time genealogy can be done with Italy and Italian families, generally?

southern italy, civil records (births, marriages, deaths) began in 1809. sicily, same type of civil records began in 1820. having not researched italian ancestors outside 2 areas, don't know when civil records began in northern , central italy.

can research microfilms of these records @ local family history center, run mormons. have gone around world , microfilmed both civil , church records have permission. in general, italian churches have not been cooperative them, cities civil records have been microfilmed.

although civil records don't exist before 1800, know census records (called "riveli") many sicilian towns going in cases late 1500s have been microfilmed , available research through local family history center. these harder work later civil records because they're written out in free hand. @ point, civil records began using printed forms, lines filling in name, place , date information. believe there similar sicilian census southern italy too, available towns on microfilm @ local family history centers.

if you're lucky, can use microfilmed census records , church records (where microfilmed) research , possibly early-mid 1700s , possibly 1600s. have used census records extend documentation few lines early-mid 1700s. of course, if have money spend, can hire genealogist in italy visit churches , records of ancestors. if local priest cooperate, can possibly extend documentation of ancestors in 1500s.

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