My grandfather, Luigi Zaino, was born March 12, 1890 in Montalto Uffugo, Cosenza, Calabria. He was a foundling, supposedly left on the steps of an orphanage. He was given the surname, Zaino, but his birth certificate says Luigi Zoano. He was taken in as an infant by a family with the last name Fuscaldo, who also took another infant at the same time. He was raised by this family, I am assuming, as a foster child, and was never legally adopted or given their last name.

I would love to find some information about the Fuscaldo family, who, I am assuming, lived in the area. I know there is a city by the name of Fuscaldo, which is close to Montalto Uffugo.

I would also love to find out any info about this orphanage, but have no idea how to go about searching and where their records would be if they are no longer in existence. I am guessing that it is nearly impossible to find out anything about his biological parents.

Can anyone offer any help, suggestions, advice? Thank you.

In small towns the orphanage as such was more for older children. Babies were usually fostered out within hours or days as some one had to feed them. The family often lived in the same town as the priest would usually know whose baby had just died (the mother would still have breast milk) or whose child was about to be weaned.