Listen to “306. Italy Ancestry Research Tips and Travel Stories” on Spreaker.
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Curious about your Italian roots or family history? Discover how to shape a trip that weaves genealogy and heritage into your travels, with insights into the emotional journey of uncovering Italian ancestry and practical tips for researching your past and building meaningful local connections in Italy.
Summary
In this episode, listener and traveler Pam Bernardo shares her experience of uncovering her Italian roots, exploring how heritage travel can reshape the way you experience Italy. We delve into researching family history, visiting ancestral towns, connecting with relatives, and navigating the practical challenges of genealogy in Italy. Along the way, you’ll hear thoughtful insights and useful tips for anyone curious about tracing their past or adding deeper meaning to their travels through Italy.
What you'll learn in this episode
- How heritage travel can reshape your experience of Italy by connecting sightseeing with personal family history, helping you understand where your ancestors came from, why they left, and how those stories add deeper meaning to visiting Italy today
- Learning some Italian can unlock stronger connections, from navigating small towns and church archives to building trust with locals and relatives, and how practical, confidence-based language learning supports genealogy travel. Support from a local guide or driver will be of great help
- How to research Italian ancestry, starting with family stories and town names, then tracking baptismal records, church documents, and migration archives, while avoiding common pitfalls with surnames and incomplete records
- What it’s really like to visit ancestral towns and reunite with relatives, including the emotional impact of walking in places your ancestors lived, worshipped, and married, and how technology like Facebook and WhatsApp helps reconnect families across continents
- Practical tips for planning a successful genealogy-focused trip, from managing language and regional bureaucracy to balancing independent travel with expert help, setting realistic expectations, and choosing the right timing, pace, and travel style for meaningful connections
Timeline Overview
- 07:31 How to begin uncovering lost Italian family heritage, including the emotional impact of realizing where your ancestors came from and why that discovery can reshape your travel experience
- 13:20 The real challenges of tracing Italian ancestry, from navigating baptismal records and local archives to understanding why patience and flexibility are essential when researching family history in Italy
- 21:43 What it’s like to experience an unexpected family reunion abroad, and how modern technology can help bridge gaps between generations, countries, and long-lost relatives
- 32:30 Practical genealogy tips and resources for getting started, including how to research online, what documents matter most, and realistic expectations for progress
- 41:15 How to combine heritage research with meaningful travel, using off-season visits, slower pacing, and mix-and-match itineraries to create a deeper connection to Italy beyond sightseeing
About our guest – Pam Bernardo
Pam is a second-generation Italian American on her father's side and grew up knowing that her grandparents immigrated to the USA in the early 1900s, but not much else about them. She is a semi-retired public school educator from Connecticut and Pennsylvania, now living in rural Vermont. Travel has always been a passion and she is grateful to now be able to explore both the USA, mostly National Parks, and abroad, particularly Italy and the UK.
Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned
Places
- Piagge – town in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino in Le Marche between Pesaro and Ancona
- San Felice a Cancello – near Caserta in Campania
- Rimini – seaside resort on the Adriatic Coast in Le Marche
- San Marino – a microstate landlocked by Italy. One of the world's oldest and smallest countries
- Urbino – historic, college town in Le Marche
- Royal Palace of Caserta – the seat of the Kingdom of Naples. The palace rivals (if not beats) Versailles and Maria Carolina, the queen, was in fact the sister of Marie Antoinette
- Paestum – town and site of some of the best preserved and important Ancient Greek ruins in the world
Food / Drink
- la scarpetta – the bread you use to mop up the juices of your food – perfect for burrata
Words / Concepts
- Ellis Island Passenger Search – a service to explore the records of the Ellis Island immigrants entering the US
- Boston Federal Archives – official source of information for the National Archives of Boston
- Parracchie Piagge – the Facebook page for the Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Lucia in Marche
- San Felice a Cancello – the Facebook page for the town in Campania, near Caserta
Related content on Untold Italy
Podcasts
- Ep 301 – Italian Travel Stories – How Carol Embraced La Dolce Vita
- Ep 284 – From Dream to Reality – A Solo Adventure in the Heart of Italy
- Ep 274 – Sea, soul and sunshine – An Adriatic adventure in Le Marche
- Ep 255 – Beyond Pizza – Unforgettable Naples and her many Treasures
- Ep 112 – Caserta Palace – A Glittering Jewel Near Naples
- Ep 074 – Travel Italy Top to Toe
- Ep 071 – Uncovering family history in Northern Italy
- Ep 044 – Ciao Napoli – Don't miss this noble and exciting city
- Ep 016 – Visit Italy’s Le Marche region with local Chantelle Kern
Articles
- Italy for Return Travelers: 12 New Places to Explore
- Must-try food of Naples
- 3-day Naples Itinerary
- Where to stay in Naples
- Best Tours in Naples – Guided Journeys For Any Adventurer
- Best day trips from Naples
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