[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Litany, your family came from an area close to where my Mom and her family emigrated from, Puglia.

Hermann, you are right. My Nonna's maiden name and her mother's maiden name indicate Greek origins.

[NYer]

My wife's family is from high up in the Appenines south of Parma. They could easily be mistaken for people from Switzerland or France.

Many Sicilians have fair skin and red hair. They are descended from the Normans. My ex's family is from a small hilltown in Molise. Their native dialect derives from Etruscan.

BTW - Parma is considered the seat of the Italian language. I once met a woman there who spoke high Italian. It was "lyrical" and truly beautiful.