L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 8 THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2024 L'Italo-Americano W h a t a r e " r o o t t r a v e l s " f r o m t h e p e r s p e c - t i v e o f b o t h s i d e s o f t h e ocean? P e r s o n a l l y , I b e g a n t o understand it when r o o t travelers came to me ask- i n g f o r h e l p . I n t h o s e moments, I quickly realized I wasn't dealing with typical tourists, there was some- thing different about them. Root travelers don't seek entertainment or crowded tourist spots; instead, their d e s t i n a t i o n s a r e s m a l l , obscure villages tucked away in inland areas and not easi- ly accessible. Among their precious goals are certifi- cates, perhaps kept in small c h u r c h e s , a n c i e n t f a m i l y tombs where they can say a prayer and leave a flower, or even old addresses that are often hard to find because street names have changed over time. Sometimes, they are in search of distant rela- tives still living. But deep down, they are all looking for part of themselves, for a missing piece in their family tree and in their hearts. That's what they are truly looking for. That's why these travelers are not tourists. During this unique expe- rience, some challenges may however arise: the first is t h e l a n g u a g e b a r r i e r . Though of Italian descent, many do not speak the lan- guage so visiting these small villages, where people are often more likely to speak dialect than Italian, can be difficult. Engaging with these trav- elers was the beginning of my exploration of a world I didn't know, that of Italian- Americans. I was acquainted with Italians and familiar with Americans, yet the con- cept of Italian-Americans was new. They are a bridge a c r o s s t h e A t l a n t i c , t h e y b l e n d t r a d i t i o n s , w o r d s , names, and ideas; they are the Italian grandmother's recipe infused with a touch of New World innovation, t h e d i a l e c t a l w o r d t h a t e v o l v e d i n t o s o m e t h i n g entirely new. They have Italy in their hearts and embody its heritage while they live their lives in America. It's entirely understand- a b l e t h a t m a n y w i s h t o r e d i s c o v e r t h e i r I t a l i a n roots, those still-mysterious places known to them only t h r o u g h h a z y m e m o r i e s , faded photographs, and dis- tant emotions. Many have shared with me their inabili- ty to learn the language, as their Italian ancestors prior- itized adapting to their new life, leaving little space for Italy and its memories. In the past, those who c o u l d n ' t r e c o n n e c t w i t h their Italian heritage felt a s e n s e o f e m p t i n e s s , a s i f m i s s i n g a c r u c i a l p a r t o f themselves. And over time, inevitably, without proac- tive measures, the connec- tion to Italian roots might gradually fade. This high- lights the critical impor- tance of maintaining the precious bond with Italian descendants. A journey to one's ancestral village can s i g n i f i c a n t l y s t r e n g t h e n these intergenerational ties: during such trips, grandpar- ents, along with their chil- d r e n a n d g r a n d c h i l d r e n , have a unique opportunity to deepen their understand- ing of what it means to be part of an "Italian family." And what about "roots travels" from the other per- spective, from the point of view of old Italy? T h e a r e a s o f I t a l y involved in the root tourism phenomenon are precisely the often-overlooked places and small villages that con- tinued to depopulate for the same reasons as a century ago: lack of prospects and e m p l o y m e n t . F o r y e a r s , even centuries, certain areas of the country have been seen as the forgotten side of s o c i e t y , m e r e w a y p o i n t s from which to depart. Yet, a rekindled interest in ances- tral lands stirred to life a dormant side of the country, h i g h l i g h t i n g r e g i o n s untouched by mainstream tourism. These off-the-beat- e n - p a t h s p o t s , r i c h w i t h undiscovered charm, have started to draw attention, often from those who least expected to find themselves drawn to such places. As a result, many, includ- i n g p e o p l e f r o m a b r o a d , started to view these idyllic villages not merely as holi- d a y d e s t i n a t i o n s b u t a s a v e n u e s f o r i n v e s t m e n t . They have been renovating old properties and aban- doned houses, sometimes purchasing them directly f r o m t h e d e s c e n d a n t s o f t h o s e w h o e m i g r a t e d decades ago. One notable example is the now-famous Case a 1 Euro initiative, where, in some cases, it's possible to purchase a house for the symbolic price of one euro, w i t h t h e c o m m i t m e n t t o refurbish it, reside in it, or c o n v e r t i t i n t o a t o u r i s t f a c i l i t y . T h i s m o v e m e n t helped people from these communities recognize the immense value of their vil- lages and all they have to offer. These are timeless places where traditions still t h r i v e , t h e a m b i a n c e remains authentic, and the people are welcoming and hospitable, eager to recon- nect with and get to know the descendants of the peo- ple who once emigrated. And what do root travel- ers feel when visiting these places? What about the resi- dents who welcome them? W o u l d m y l i f e h a v e unfolded differently had my a n c e s t o r s n o t v e n t u r e d afar?" they ponder. "Per- haps my existence would be m e r e l y h y p o t h e t i c a l . O r , perhaps, I would have lived out my days here, in these places that are familiar and unknown at the same time." I t ' s t r u l y a l o v e s t o r y , where the future meets the past and gives meaning to the present. I've witnessed the joy of these people in discovering an unknown part of them- selves, against the backdrop of incredible emotions. Like a sun rising from the hills and illuminating the whole Earth, a beautiful sense of gratitude grows when think- ing about those who, sacri- ficing themselves, allowed their descendants to have the life they have today. "Thank you," the eyes of t h e s e a w e - f i l l e d v i s i t o r s seem to say. "Thank you for being here," locals answer, in this extraordinary rain- bow of emotions. Giorgia Montella is the c r e a t o r o f C o n n e c t t o your Campania Roots. You can read more about her and her work on the Connect to Your Campania Roots Facebook page. GIORGIA MONTELLA Root travels: a love story Taking in the view, as all tourists do. But root travelers are more than "regular" visitors, they seek a connection with their own past and heritage (Photo: Sergiomonti/Dreamstime) TOURISM OF THE ROOTS TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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