For many, a trip to Italy is about art, food, and breathtaking landscapes. But for those with Calabrian and Southern Italy ancestry, a visit to their family’s homeland is more than just a vacation, it’s a deeply personal journey through time.
In November 2024, Peter and his son Lucas set off on an extraordinary trip to Stilo in Provence of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, searching for the footprints of their ancestor, Domenico. With the expertise of Vita Calabra Tours, they did more than just visit a picturesque village—they unlocked forgotten family stories, stood in the places their ancestors once lived, and even reconnected with newfound relatives.
In this interview, Peter shares the emotional moments of his ancestry tour, offering insights and advice to anyone considering a similar trip.
“This was their town, not ours—yet, they made us feel like we had never left.”
Peter and Lucas stand proudly in front of the Hotel San Giorgio, once owned by the Lamberti family
“A dear friend told me about all the trips he planned to take with his family when he retired. Two months after his retirement, he passed away suddenly. His death reminded me that there is no time to wait. I told my son—pick any week this year, and we’re going to Italy. He chose the time, and we went.”
“Like many Italian-Americans, I felt a strong connection to Italy but had very little knowledge of my family history. Through Ancestry.com, I discovered that my grandfather was born in Stilo in 1900 and emigrated to the U.S. as a child. But I had never met any living relatives in Italy before this trip.”
“I told Danilo that I wanted to find my family history, but more than anything, I wanted to meet living relatives. He arranged everything perfectly. When we arrived at the town hall, a clerk warmly welcomed us and showed us my grandfather’s birth record in a bound volume of handwritten pages. It was incredible—those records had been sitting on a shelf for over 100 years. All I needed was the right person to help me find them. The right person was Danilo.”
“The clerk told me that, because of my heritage, I could even become a resident of Stilo. It was something I had never considered before, but at that moment, I felt a deep sense of belonging.”
“While the clerk was printing my grandfather’s birth certificate, locals inside the town hall became curious about our visit. Within minutes, one of the ladies discovered we had the same last name. She started talking to us, and thankfully, Danilo was there to translate. He had also advised me to bring American candy as a small gift—people loved it, and it instantly created a connection.”
“Many Americans return to Calabria to trace their roots, but my son and I were treated like we were the first ones to ever do so. I reminded myself that the people we met had stayed in Italy, while my grandfather had left. This was their town, not ours—yet, they made us feel like we had never left.”
“My father and grandfather passed away long before my son was born, so I never expected him to feel such a strong connection to Italy. But at 29, he felt right at home. It made me think about how heritage is passed down in ways we don’t fully understand. Even the food tasted familiar to us, despite not growing up in a traditional Italian-American household.”
“Now that I’m almost 70, I reflect more on where I come from and the legacy I leave behind. We all feel alone at times, but this trip showed me that I am part of something much bigger—a long, interconnected family tapestry that continues to grow. That realization brings me comfort.”
“My son and I have the last name Copeland, but my grandfather’s real surname was Lamberti. One of my newfound cousins in Calabria jokingly told us, ‘You guys should change your names back to Lamberti!’”
“One night, while having pizza in a local restaurant, I mentioned I didn’t have any souvenirs from Stilo. The restaurant owner disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a beautiful woven placemat featuring the town’s famous church. Then, our waiter—his son—handed me his own soccer jersey from the local team. Those are gifts we will treasure forever because they symbolize the love and kindness we received.”
With breathtaking views of Calabria’s coastline in the background, Peter and his son during the genealogy tour in Stilo, searching for the final resting places of their ancestors
During the genealogy tour in Stilo, Peter and his son, with some local guides, reconnect with their roots, standing before the grave of an ancestor in the town’s historic cemetery.
Peter’s experience in Stilo was more than just a trip—it was a reconnection with family, identity, and a heritage that had been waiting for him.
If you’ve ever wondered about your own ancestral roots, Vita Calabra Tours can guide you on a personalized journey of discovery. Whether it’s uncovering historical documents, meeting distant relatives, or simply walking the same streets as your ancestors, every experience is unique and deeply meaningful.