Mottola's Story

In March 2015 I was contacted by email by Teresa Mottola, an Italian American born and raised in Florida USA, who asked me to take her from Sorrento, where she was staying on holiday, to Postiglione in the province of Salerno, to help her as interpreter and in search for the last 20 years of his grandfather Nicola Mottola's life. Nicola was born in Postiglione on 11 July 1886 and emigrated to the United States on the Montevideo ship which departed from the port of Naples on 11 April 1904. He married Filomena Giordano, also Italian, they had six children, then unfortunately Filomena died in 1934. One of their children was Bettina, Teresa's mother. Nicola married again, Elena and they had two children, Nicola and Angelo. In 1948 Nicola and his wife returned to Postiglione where they bought an olive grove thus becoming a small local business. Nicola died in Postiglione on September 6, 1968. I remember well that I contacted Doctor Generoso Conforti, historical founder of the Arci (Italian Social Recreational Association) of Postiglione, who immediately set to work to find more information about Nicola Mottola. The house where they lived had been identified as well as the ossuary containing the remains of Nicola in the cemetery of Postiglione.

On 12 June I accompanied Teresa and her husband to Postiglione where both Generoso and Don Martino De Pasquale, parish priest of the village, were waiting for us at the town hall. The registers had already been prepared for the registration of Nicola's birth and death. Some photos have been taken and maybe I should have kept some but sometimes I think that even if I am treated like one of the family during the day, all this belongs to them and I am already satisfied knowing their story.

After spending a couple of hours in the town they accompanied us to the cemetery, and we found the place where Nicola's bones are resting; We then went to see the house and I remember very well that immediately at the main entrance there was such a steep staircase made up of very high steps. I always wonder about the strength and health that our ancestors kept, all done by hand, carried on their backs, they had no means of transport, they use to walk for hours up and down the stairs without ever complain.

Lunch time. Local trattoria La Doga where you can taste local products such as cheeses, vegetables, rosemary focaccia and then continue with ravioli provola and mushrooms. Could not miss the tiramisu. I forgot! The house red wine, obviously not for me.

On the way back to Sorrento we talk about all the information stored and the serenity you feel when you have found what you are looking for.