Italy
Puglia
Lecce
Specchia is a comune in the provincia of Lecce, Puglia with a population of 4,500 as of 2025. Between 1830 and 1912, at least 2 passengers departing from Specchia arrived in the United States. The comune was previously known as Specchia de' Preti.
Contact
To request vital records from the anagrafe (records office), write to the PEC address or email below. Include the full name, approximate date, and record type in Italian.
Map
Historical Names
Specchia de' Preti→Specchia
Changed on May 5, 1873
Località
Each Italian comune is divided into località (localities), which include centri abitati (populated centers) and nuclei abitati (smaller settlements).
Centri abitati
AltitudePopulation- Specchia131m4,052
- Sant'Eufemia110m51
Population and Migration
This chart shows annual resident population, US arrivals (1830 to 1912), and international migration (2001 to present). Not all data is available for every period, so gaps are normal.
The population has grown 69% since 1861. US arrivals peaked in 1899 with 1 recorded passengers.
Total US arrivals
2
1830–1912
Peak year
1899
1 arrivals
Cittadinanza per discendenza
Could a line from Specchia qualify for Italian citizenship?
Between 1830 and 1912, at least 2 passengers from Specchia arrived in the United States. Arrivals peaked in 1899. If one of them is your ancestor, Italy may recognize you as a citizen under jure sanguinis (citizenship by descent).
The birthplace alone does not decide it. Each generation between that ancestor and you does: who naturalized, and when. Since the 2025 law, the number of generations matters too.
The checker goes back through your line one generation at a time. It is not legal advice, and it does not search for records.
Check your lineItalian-born ancestor
Your ancestor from Specchia
Born in Specchia (LE), Italy
Each generation between
Name and dates
Did this person naturalize before their child was born?
You
A likely outcome
and the documents your line would need
Not ready to start? Get an email when the citizenship rules change.
Top Emigrant Cognomi
Most common cognomi (family names) among emigrants from Specchia recorded in US arrivals, 1830 to 1912.
Notable People
People born in Specchia.