Sora and Villavallelonga

To remember those who came before and a guide for those who follow.

May 23 2025

Pasquale and Angelina Crescenza DiSarra Tomasso

PASQUALE TOMASSI, son of ANTONIO TOMASSI and FRANCESCA ALONZI, was born in 1884 in Sora in the Lazio region of Italy. The Tomassi family lived in and around Sora since 1782.

ANGELA CRESCENZA DISARRA daughter of FRANCESCO DISARRA and CHRISTINA BIANCHI was born on January 17, 1897 in Villavallelonga, a mountain town in the Abruzzo region.

They married on November 22, 1906 in VVL. Witnesses were LUIGI and PRIMO BIANCHI.

The DiSarra family was originally from Pescosolido, a town in the region of Frosinone (see more below and the family’s individuals in FAMILY TREES. The town with about 1500 residents is about 7 miles from Sora but about 42 miles from VVL since you have to drive around the Apennies mountain range.

Villavallelonga

Also known as LaVilla the town lies within the boundaries of the National Park of Abruzzo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic center was known as Vallelonga or “Trans Aquas” Valley. Some Ellis Island ship manifests list the village as Villasathlongo, Villeverielonga, Villaballelonga, Villovalle etc. making research difficult.

In 1901 the population was 2,480. By 1911 it dropped to 1,953 due to emigration. Currently it has dropped even further to about 836.

Sora

Sora is a town in Lazio in the province of Frosinone. The population today is about 25,000. It is built on the banks of the Liri river and is known for manufacturing furniture and paper mills. 

In 1881 the population of Sora was about 13,000. Unlike many small Italian towns that are losing residents it now numbers about 25,000.

Pescosolido

In the Middle Ages Pescosolido was a fortified medieval town and the residence of the Boncompagni Dukes. The earthquakes of 1653 and 1915 brought so much destruction that the ancient medieval area was almost wiped away.

The word Pescosolido means “solid rock” and derives from the ancient Italic word “pesclum” (rock) due to the high, steep mountains in the territory.