I am Sicilian, and have done extensive research there.  The amount of microfilms available depends on the parish and city.  One city that my ancestors come from have parish records dating back to the late 1500's.  Yet, in another city, I'm hard pressed to get anything beyond 1800.  You will find that most civil records began being kept in 1820.  Depending on your locale, you may find parish records prior to that date.   You may also consider hiring a professional Italian researcher once you hit a brick wall. Many of the cities do have church records there, however, they may not be microfilmed.  As stated by someone else here, start with the Family History catalog and see what is available.  Also try "googling" your Sicilian town. --- On Sun, 6/14/09, W. David Samuelsen <dsam52@sampubco.com> wrote: From: W. David Samuelsen <dsam52@sampubco.com> Subject: Re: [LDS-WC] Italian research To: lds-ward-consultant@rootsweb.com Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009, 7:32 PM A great deal had been microfilmed in the island of Sicily. The island is divided into many towns and parishes, pretty much covered from 1800 to 1910. David Samuelsen JCBrooks@aol.com wrote: >     _Italy, Finding Your Ancestors_ > (http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Glo > ss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=36580_Italy_Finding_Ancestor.asp)    > _[Description]_ (javascript:openauthor('Research/TitleI/TitleI46.asp');)    _[Color  > PDF]_ > (javascript:openPDFRequest('images/36580_italy_finding_ancestor_color.pdf', 'RH');)   _[PDF]_ > (javascript:openPDFRequest('images/36580_italy_finding_ancestor.pdf', 'RH');)    _36580_ > (http://www.ldscatalog.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?storeId=10151&searchTerm=36580) >  > On _www.familysearch.org_ (http://www.familysearch.org)    under  Research > Guidance...this version of Italian Research was produced just a couple  of > years ago and is excellent. >  > The good news is that the Church has begun microfilming the Civil records  > in Italy.  The bad news is..not in Sicily...yet...as far as I can tell on  > the Family History Library Catalog. >  > The Civil records are quite easy to use....with the research guide and the  > Italian word list, you can figure out what these boilerplate (on forms or > in a  similar format each time) records say. >  > The guide gives examples of real records and how to use them. >  > Michele >  >  > In a message dated 6/14/2009 6:26:57 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  > Phantomblt@aol.com writes: > > Does  anyone have experience working with Sicilian records?  I have a    > friend who is trying to get some info over there before her son comes home  > from  > his mission in Sicily.  > > Cindy  M > Columbus > **************Choose the home loan that saves you the most  $$$. Agents > available at ditech.com  > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221374924x1201371434/aol?redir=htt > p:%2F%2Fclk.atdmt.com%2FDEG%2Fgo%2F153724534%2Fdirect%2F0 > 1%2F) > > Please  send the one word message SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to  > LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM  > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please  send an email to > LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-request@rootsweb.com with the word  'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the > subject and the body of the  message > > > **************Choose the home loan that saves you the most $$$. Agents > available at ditech.com > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221374924x1201371434/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fclk.atdmt.com%2FDEG%2Fgo%2F153724534%2Fdirect%2F0 > 1%2F) > > Please send the one word message SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > Please send the one word message SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message