Southern Italy (Sicily, Calabria, Campania, Puglia) was the main point of departure concerning hundreds of families leaving for overseas.

If you have Sicilian ancestors and you want to learn more about their origins and homeland, you shouldn’t miss the opportuniy to take this journey with us, back in your past. You are going to find out that this land still cherishes the ancient roots of its distant sons and daughters.
Are you ready to unveil them? We can help you find out if you still have relatives and eventually make you meet them. Contact us also if you just want to visit and discover the places your family is from.

1. Genealogical Research and Historical Reconstruction

Even before the traveler sets off, the team of experts begins a meticulous investigation to map the family heritage:

• Access to Archives: Researching birth, marriage, and death certificates at municipal Civil Registry offices and parish archives.

• Family Dossier: Collection of historical documents and photographs to reconstruct the family tree.

• Identification of Places: Exact localization of the ancestral home, lands once owned by the family, or the workshop where the ancestor worked.

2. Planning the “Homecoming”

Once the “places of the heart” have been identified, Discover Messina Sicily organizes every logistical aspect of the trip, customizing it based on the family history that has emerged:

• Personalized Itineraries: Creation of routes that visit the villages of origin (often small hamlets off the beaten path).

• Full Logistics: Booking accommodation, private transportation, and tour guides to facilitate communication with the locals.

• Sensory Experiences: Organization of lunches or dinners based on traditional recipes from the town of origin, to rediscover the flavors passed down by grandparents.

3. Trip Execution and Emotional Encounters

This is the culminating phase, managed with great human and professional sensitivity:

• Visiting Ancestral Places: We can take you to the places of origin, the churches where baptisms, first communions, and weddings were celebrated, and the local cemetery to pay tribute to ancestors.

• Search for Living Relatives: One of the most extraordinary services is the attempt to track down cousins or distant relatives still living in Sicily. Discover Messina facilitates the first meeting, often transforming it into a welcoming celebration.

• Delivery of the “Book of Roots”: Many tours conclude with the presentation of a physical document summarizing all the research conducted—a precious heirloom to take back home.