How to Request Italian Records from State Archives
The Italian State Archives (Archivio di Stato) are located in the capital of each Italian province, but the documentation they preserve reflects the changes that occurred in Italy’s political organization over time. These archives hold various types of records that can be requested, including: Civil Registration Records, Military Conscription Lists (Liste di Leva or Ruoli Matricolari), and Census Records.
It’s important to note that records dated before 1850 cannot be photocopied, and as we go further back in time, we’ll find that many Italian records were written in Latin—often in vernacular or non-standard Latin.
The archives contain large and complex volumes that are difficult to handle. As a result, it is often necessary to hire a professional researcher to carry out the work. These searches are delicate and, in general, the staff at the State Archives are not available to perform them on your behalf.
Understanding the Documents and Time Periods Covered: The Portale Antenati
One of the best tools for exploring the details of the documentary collections held in the State Archives is the Portale Antenati. In addition to providing access to digitized images of civil records, the portal includes information about the archival holdings (civil and military records) preserved in each provincial State Archive.
This feature is especially valuable, as many archives have recently acquired and catalogued new collections. For example, the State Archive of Rimini holds the Anagrafe delle Parrocchie (Parish Census, 1861–1865) and Fedi di Nascita (Birth Certificates, 1780–1919), extracted from parish records covering the territory of Rimini and nearby towns.
SIAS: provides access to alphabetically arranged lists of archival fonds held by the state archives and to some of their finding aids.