Can you feel the past? We saw it in Valledolmo.
Yesterday we traveled with Anziano Battaglia and Anziano Anderton to the small city of Valledolmo, named such because of a large elm tree that grew in the center of town. Valledolmo is between Palermo and Caltanissetta, one hour each way. It is a community of about 4,000 in the middle of the mountains and fields of hay and grapes. It was settled in 1650.
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| Our first view of Valledolmo |
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| The fields surrounding Valledomo |
Anziano Battaglia traces his family line to Valledolmo. His great grandparents lived there, married there, and left for America from there. We had the privilege of driving him there to see some of this family history.
We drove straight to the Madre Church where they were married.
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| Our first view of the Madre Church |
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| The bells rang loud and clear |
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| Built in the 17th century |
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| Anziano Battaglia's first glimpse of the church |
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| Anziano Battaglia |
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| The chapel |
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| Some of the art and marble works |
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| Marble art work |
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| Painting from 1912 |
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| The dome |
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| Reflection |
He spoke to Father Francisco and saw the marriage announcement and marriage records from the 1830's. It was a sweet, sweet moment.
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| Anziano Battaglia and Father Francisco |
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| Seeing the records |
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| The archives |
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| Marriage archives from 1826 to 1849 |
For a few minutes we saw the past and felt the connection to it.
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| Marble streets |
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| Anziano Battaglia's great grandfather was a marble cutter |
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| Walking the streets of Valledolmo |
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| Up the steep streets |
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| This gentleman told of the Battaglia family that lived up the street |
Our families are connected whether gone from this life already or not. Our families can and are together forever.
