What is Ancestral Tourism and Why You Should Consider It For Your Next Trip to Italy
One of my favorite “insider” jokes is noticing the horrified expressions on the faces of people on the arrival platform at Termini Train Station in Rome. Their crisp white sundresses create quite the contrast in the dirty travel hub and you can see the wheels in their heads turning as they wonder where the Roman scenery they’re accustomed to seeing in films has gone. I promise, I only laugh because they’re seeing reality for the first time and they do eventually find what they’re looking for. It’s just a necessary outlet to have a chuckle at tourists when you’re in Rome as often as I am. You see, Rome is a MUST when you visit Italy, and tourists show up en masse, as numerous and impertinent as the pigeons. Without taking anything away from Rome, which, obviously, delivers when it comes to touristic opportunity, I can’t help but think about the opportunities that tourists miss out on by focusing on cities like Rome. There is so much more to Italy, but its best parts remain inaccessible to the average visitor.
In recent years, a new kind of tourism has quietly gained momentum—one that doesn’t rely on skip-the-line museum tickets or viral tik tok recommendations. It’s called ancestral tourism, and it’s a win-win for tourists and Italy in ways that go far beyond the economy. As the country grapples with the pressure of mass tourism in hotspots like Venice, Florence, and Rome, ancestral tourism is emerging as a powerful alternative—one that supports local communities, preserves cultural heritage, and offers tourists a deeply personal, transformative experience.
Ancestral tourism, sometimes referred to as heritage travel, is when people visit the country of their family’s origin to explore their roots. For Italian Americans and members of the Italian diaspora around the world, this means traveling not just to see famous landmarks but to walk the streets their grandparents walked, visit small villages, explore family archives, and rediscover traditions that have shaped their identity. These travel concepts are particularly topical, as Italy has recently made the decision to become more stringent with the requirements to grant Italian citizenship through Italian descent. For those longing to reconnect with their Italian heritage, but who’ve perhaps been denied the Italian passport, this type of travel is, in my opinion, an even better way to honor their families and where they came from. It’s intimate, immersive, and often life-changing. And for Italy, it offers a much-needed reprieve from the strain of overtourism.
Tourism is vital to Italy’s economy, but the concentration of visitors in just a few iconic cities has become unsustainable. I read recently that over 70% of visitors to Italy travel within the same 1%. Venice has been forced to impose entry fees. Residents of Florence and Rome are increasingly vocal about the strain on housing, public services, and local culture. Local businesses featuring generations-long artisan traditions are forced to close down only to be replaced by foreign businesses dealing mass produced trinkets, gelato made from powder, flashier alternatives designed to dupe unsuspecting visitors to Italy. When tourism is concentrated in a handful of places, everyone loses—especially the tourists themselves, who often experience crowds and inauthentic experiences instead of the connection they’d hoped to find.
Ancestral tourism redirects some of this energy toward lesser-known areas. Instead of standing in line at the Vatican Museums, ancestral tourists may be sipping espresso in a small Calabrian town, visiting a regional archive, or learning to cook traditional dishes passed down in their family. These experiences foster genuine relationships between visitors and locals and distribute economic benefits to parts of Italy that are often overlooked and underfunded
For travelers, ancestral tourism offers more than just a vacation. It’s a journey of identity. I’ve seen so many debates lately about what it means to be Italian, with Italian-Americans insisting that their heritage and experiences are valid, in spite of the pushback from native Italians. This type of journey offers the type of eye-opening learning that is a great place to start reconnecting. People often return home not just with photos, but with a stronger sense of self and stories that can be passed down for generations. It also offers:
Authenticity: A chance to experience real Italian culture (and learn what it is) beyond the tourist trail.
Intimacy: Visits to small towns, one-on-one experiences, and the warmth of Italian hospitality.
Legacy: A way to preserve and reconnect with family heritage, language, and tradition.
Of course, ancestral travel isn’t always easy. Many people, in spite of Italian roots, don’t speak the language, don’t know how to navigate Italy’s regional records, and don’t have contacts in the towns their family came from. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone.
Through my business, I help bridge this gap by working directly with Italian businesses and local communities to craft meaningful, accessible experiences for heritage travelers. I can assist with everything from local guides and language support to curated itineraries in your ancestral region. My goal is to make this kind of travel not only possible, but deeply enriching for both the visitor and the communities they touch.
As a tour guide and as a teacher of Italian language and culture, it shouldn’t surprise you that this is a subject I carry quite close to my heart. I started my Italian experience in Rome, like many of you have and will, but the parts of Italy that shaped my destiny lie well outside of her walls. Ancestral tourism isn’t just a trend—it’s part of a more sustainable, emotionally rich future for travel in Italy. It supports small towns. It keeps traditions alive. It builds confidence! And it creates memories that last a lifetime.
Whether you're dreaming of exploring your Italian roots or helping your business reach a new kind of traveler, now is the perfect time to shift focus toward this growing movement. Let’s move beyond the beaten path—and into the heart of Italy. I can promise you that when you do the extra work and you put in the extra effort, when you go the (literal) extra mile and realize that Italy isn’t all sundresses, that’s when the personal growth starts to happen and real connections are made between you and Italy… and you and yourself.
Want help planning your heritage trip?
Use the contact form to reach out to me. I help people connect with their Italian roots and support small Italian businesses ready to welcome them. Let’s make your story part of Italy’s future.
