L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano 2 0 2 4 m a r k s a p i v o t a l y e a r f o r r o o t s t o u r i s m , a movement that Italy is championing with determination and commit- ment. As more Italians living abroad and their descendants seek to reconnect with their ancestral origins, Italy intro- duces Italea (www.italea.co m ) , a n a m b i t i o u s p r o j e c t designed to facilitate this deeply personal journey. Its aim is to support root tourism in all its forms and at all levels, from historical and genealogical research to the organization of trips to Ital- ian villages and towns of ori- gin. Conceived and launched u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e I t a l i a n M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s a n d International Coopera- tion, Italea is part of the broader PNRR project and of its strategic framework, and has been generously funded by NextGenerationEU for the 2022-2025 period. Five min- istries and about 800 Italian municipalities, along with various sector organizations, have been collaborating on the project, focusing on high- lighting lesser-known tourist routes and offering services and support to root travelers from all over the world. T h e n a m e " I t a l e a " i s inspired by the term talea, which refers to a plant propa- gation method of cutting and replanting a part to nurture new growth, a concept that beautifully mirrors the many migrations that saw Italians plant new roots across the globe while staying connect- e d t o t h e i r m o t h e r l a n d . Through Italea, the aim is not only to encourage Italians and their descendants world- wide to rediscover their roots but also to strengthen ties with overseas communities, boost the economic develop- ment of smaller centers, pro- mote sustainable tourism, and support youth employ- ment by fostering the devel- opment of new professional r o l e s i n t h e f i e l d o f r o o t s tourism. The importance of Italea is in how it can help people very p r a g m a t i c a l l y i n their unique journey back to their origins, making the exploration of familial history and roots a deeply enriching experience. Clearly tailored for Italians residing abroad and those of Italian descent, Italea is a bridge to reconnect with one's heritage through a dedicated plat- form: whether you want to discover places, traditions, and culture of your ancestors or are on a quest to find out more about your Italian lin- eage with the assistance of skilled genealogists, Italea provides a comprehensive suite of services to facilitate your journey. T h i s i s a l s o p o s s i b l e because of Italea's expansive network spread across all I t a l i a n r e g i o n s , w h i c h ensures detailed support for root travelers offering infor- m a t i o n , h o s p i t a l i t y , a n d assistance tailored to the unique needs and expecta- tions of each visitor: indeed, with the help of a team of professionals, Italea can sup- p o r t y o u t o c r e a t e c u s - tomized itineraries, based on y o u r o r i g i n s , n e e d s a n d requests. In this context, the Italea Card is a wel- come and very useful service, which opens up a world of discounts and benefits for root travelers, offered by Italea's many project part- ners. I t i s c l e a r t h a t I t a l e a ' s ambitious project transcends conventional "do-it-yourself" tourism, thanks to its cus- tomized and specialized itin- eraries that provide travelers with a compass to navigate a n d r e c o n n e c t w i t h t h e i r roots and identity. As point- ed out by Luigi Maria Vig- nali, the Director General f o r I t a l i a n s A b r o a d a n d Migration Policies, Italea is a key tool in the long-term d e v e l o p m e n t a n d f u t u r e maintenance of root tourism i n t h e c o u n t r y , a t y p e o f tourism that doesn't only want to invigorate Italy's economic growth but also help the many people of Ital- ian descent around the world recover a sense of their iden- tity and history. This very idea was echoed e v e n b y P r e s i d e n t Mattarella during the inau- guration of Pesaro as the C a p i t a l o f C u l t u r e 2 0 2 4 when he highlighted the pro- found value of "place" and family roots in each person's life. Among the many things Italea can do for root travel- ers, we find arranging visits to significant historical sites and churches holding vital family records, but also facil- itating encounters with dis- tant relatives, should such connections exist. Beyond merely booking flights and accommodations, Italea's expertise extends to logistical support within Italy—be it t r a i n r e s e r v a t i o n s , f e r r y bookings, or car rentals— thus making the journey eas- ier, particularly in less acces- sible towns. When it comes to genealo- gy research, Italea can con- nect individuals with profes- s i o n a l g e n e a l o g i s t s specializing in Italian ances- try: these experts assist in u n c o v e r i n g c r u c i a l d o c u - ments—birth certificates, marriage records, immigra- t i o n p a p e r s — p r a c t i c a l l y p a v i n g t h e w a y t o p i e c e together one's family history. Moreover, Italea also pro- vides access to invaluable online resources, including historical archives and pas- senger lists, facilitating a deeper dive into one's lin- eage. Once in Italy, Italea can also offer tips and organiza- tion to ensure the trip is as immersive as possible, by helping discover an array of t r a d i t i o n s a n d f e s t i v a l s , crafts, and culinary experi- ences that can bring travelers even closer to their roots and heritage. Aware of the likeli- hood of a language barrier being present, especially in more rural areas of the coun- try, Italea also offers lan- guage assistance or the sup- port of local guides to make sure the experience is not only immersive and authen- tic but also runs as smoothly as possible for visitors. Italea also supports connections with local historians in many parts of the country, to offer insights into the histori- cal context and everyday life of the region at the times of migrations. I t a l e a ' s p a r t n e r s h i p network further enhances the experience: discounts on accommodations through relationships with hotels and B&Bs, along with personal- ized experiences facilitated by local businesses—restau- r a n t s , m u s e u m s , c u l t u r a l centers—offer unique tours and opportunities to engage with local artisans. These partnerships also foster com- munity connections, linking travelers with local historical societies, cultural associa- tions, and fellow "root travel- e r s , " w h i c h c a n a c t i v e l y transform this journey back to one's Italian roots into an experience filled with a sense of belonging and community. FRANCESCA BEZZONE Italea, the platform helping root travelers discover their past Two young travelers explore Italy. Italea is an online platform that brings together all the services root travelers may need to find out more about their origins and discover the land of their ancestors (Photo: Davide Angelini/Dreamstime) ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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