View source for Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Genealogy

== Church Records (''registri ecclesiastici'') ==
*Church records (registri ecclesiastici) are vital records kept by priests and are often called parish registers or church books. They include records of christenings (baptisms), marriages, and deaths (burials). In addition, church records may include confirmations, first communions, and church census records. The Roman Catholic Church is traditionally recognized as the state church because most Italians are Roman Catholic. Nearly every person who lived in Italy was recorded in a church record during the last 200 to 300 years.<br>

*Church records are crucial for research before the civil government started keeping vital records, which began about 1809 to 1820, and in some provinces, 1866 or 1871. After that, church records continued to be kept but often contain less information. It can be helpful to search both types of records, particularly if your ancestors' information seems to be missing from one or the other. Of course, in some cases you will find only church records online for a locality, which are therefore more accessible than writing for civil registration. However, they usually contain fewer details.

*To learn more about church records, see [[Italy Church Records|'''Italy Church Records''']].
=== 1.  Digital Online and Microfilm Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog ===
There are some microfilmed records available. Currently, they are being digitized, and plans are to complete that project by 2020. Check back occasionally to see if your records have become available. In the meantime, some of them might be available at a [https://www.familysearch.org/help/fhcenters/locations/ '''Family History Center'''] near you. To find a microfilm:

:::a. Click on this link to see a list of [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=112134&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Italy%2C%20Bologna%22 '''records for Italy, Bologna"'''].
:::b. Click on '''"Places within Italy, Bologna"''' and a list of towns and cities will open.
:::c. Click on the '''town or city''' you wish to search.
:::d. Click on '''"Church Records"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
:::e. Choose the correct '''event and time period''' for your ancestor. '''"Battesimi"''' are infant baptisms, which are used for birth information. '''"Matrimoni"''' are marriages. ''' "Morti"''' are deaths.

:::f. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the microfilm listed for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the microfilm. 

=== 2. Writing to a Catholic Priest for Church Records ===
Baptism, marriage, and death records may be searched by contacting or visiting local parish or diocese archives in Italy. Italy has no single repository of church records. Write your request in Italian whenever possible. '''''This method is not always reliable.  Officials might or might not respond.''''' 

Write a brief request in Italian to the proper church using this address as guide replacing the information in parentheses:<br>

::Reverendo Parroco <br>
::(Street address, if known: consult [http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/directory.cfm?fuseaction=show_country&country=IT '''The Catholic Directory''']) <br>
::([http://zip-codes.nonsolocap.it/ Postal code]) (City) (Province abbreviation:BO)<br>
::ITALY

*[http://zip-codes.nonsolocap.it/ '''Find the Italian postal code here.'''] 

'''Write your request in Italian whenever possible. For writing your letter in Italian, use the translated questions and phrases in this [[Italy Letter Writing Guide|Italy Letter Writing Guide.]]''' When requesting information, send the following:<br> 

*Cashier’s check or international money order (in local currency) for the search fee. See [[Italy Letter Writing Guide#How To Send Return Postage and Money|'''How To Send Return Postage and Money''']].
*Full name and the sex of the person sought. 
*Names of the parents, if known. 
*Approximate date and place of the event. 
*Your relationship to the person. 
*Reason for the request (family history or medical). 
*Request for a complete extract of the record