Roots Tourism is a type of travel dedicated to Italians abroad and their descendants who wish to rediscover their origins by visiting the places their families came from. In Italy, this type of tourism is growing, thanks to the strong emotional connection that millions of people worldwide have with the country.
Here are somerecommended itineraries for roots tourism in Italy, divided by regions with a significant history of emigration:
Piedmont
Turin and the Canavese area:
an industrial zone from which many workers emigrated in the late 19th century.
Liguria
Savona and the Val Bormida:
rediscovering local gastronomy, exploring historic villages, and reconnecting with the local community.
Tuscany
Florence and the Lunigiana:
Castles, Romanesque parish churches, nature-immersed trails, and ancient traditions make this land an ideal place
for a journey to discover one's origins.
Abruzzo and Molise
L’Aquila and surroundings:
visit villages affected by earthquakes and rebuilt with the help of emigrants.
Sulmona and the Majella Mountains:
hometown of many emigrants to the USA and Australia.
Campobasso and Isernia:
regions with strong migration ties to Canada and Venezuela, with preserved historical archives and testimonies.
Campania
Naples and surroundings:
visit the historic neighborhoods from which many emigrants departed (Sanità, Spaccanapoli, Forcella).
Amalfi Coast and Cilento:
rediscover the seaside villages from which many families emigrated to the USA and Argentina.
Benevento and Irpinia:
small villages like Sant’Agata de’ Goti and Ariano Irpino, with municipal archives full of emigration records.
Puglia
Bari and the Itria Valley:
visit the trulli houses of Alberobello and the city of Bari, with historical archives full of emigration records.
Salento and Lecce:
discover musical and culinary traditions preserved by emigrants in Argentina and Brazil.
Foggia and the Gargano Peninsula:
visit towns like San Giovanni Rotondo and Monte Sant’Angelo, from which entire families emigrated in
the 20th century.
Recommended Activities for Roots Tourism
Genealogical research:
visit municipal and parish archives to find family records.
Cultural and culinary experiences:
take part in traditional cooking workshops, folk music events, and local crafts.
Meetings with local communities:
attend events dedicated to descendants of emigrants, featuring testimonials and cultural exchanges.
