About This Web Site

About this site...

This site was created just for the fun of it. It started off to be a journal detailing information I dug up about my Italian roots. But before long, I knew I wanted to share some of the interesting facts I found and beautiful places I visited. Our surname is Languis. However, this is the "American" version. Most likely butchered in immigration or changed when my Aunt Rose and Aunt Josephine started school. The correct Italian surname is Langiu.

My grandparents, Giovanni and Caterina Langiu (better known as John and Catherine Languis) and their children, Lorenzina (Aunt Rose) Peter David (Uncle Pete) and Maria Giuseppa (Aunt Jo) when they began their lives in America. This photo was probably taken about 1913 or 1914. My grandparents were born in Santa Teresa di Gallura, Sardegna, Italy and immigrated to the US in the early 1900's. My grandfather, Giovanni Antonio Langiu, came first on June 1, 1911. A year later, June 25, 1912, my grandmother, Caterina Comiti and their two infant daughters, Lorenzina (Aunt Rose) and Maria Giuseppa (Aunt Josephine) arrived. I often wonder what their lives were like in Italy and why they left. Life must have been very hard for them in Sardegna, but it could not have been an easy decision for them to make. I can only imagine the difficulties they faced adapting to a new culture, not knowing the language, and not having friends or family for emotional and financial support.

I have encountered many heartfelt stories of Italian immigrants during my genealogy research. Some of these stories have been very sad, others joyful. But the most important thing they did for me was to fuel my desire to tell the story of Giovanni and Caterina Langiu and to bestow upon the memory of their lives the honor and respect and the love that they truly deserve.

If we don't tell these stories now, they will be gone forever and our children and grandchildren will never know their heritage. Many of our elders have passed on, their stories never to be known. And so, I continue to dig for information and manage to have a little fun while I'm at it. I hope you'll join me.

Perhaps you remember a story someone told you, the name of a town or the name of a friend or family member. Any information that would help piece together their lives would be appreciated. Please email me with comments or helpful links that you would like to share with me.

Tuscany - San Fabiano - Podernovo

Monteroni d'Arbia

The Island of Sardegna

Golfo Aranci - Hotel Margherita