Roots tourism: more and more Sicilians by origin are rediscovering the land their grandparents once left. A journey through memories and flavours.

Roots Tourism: more and more Sicilians by origin are rediscovering the land their grandparents left behind. A journey through memories and flavours

“I can’t wait to breathe this air every morning and be intoxicated by these flavours.” Caterina’s icy blue eyes suddenly light up when, during a tasting at Azienda Agricola Oliva, just a few kilometres from Syracuse, she talks about the country house. That place, which today is only a small ruin currently being restored, holds a few but happy childhood memories, from when she used to return in summer with her parents to enjoy the sun, the sea, and the agricultural products that Germany could not offer.

Caterina’s story is common to many Sicilians. Having moved abroad as very young children during the great migration flows of the 1950s and 1970s, they never completely cut the umbilical cord with their homeland, even though they spent practically their entire lives in another country.

This is known as root travel, or tourism in search of one’s roots, which in recent years has been leading more and more Italians by descent to rediscover the land of their grandparents. It is estimated that there are around eighty million people of Italian descent worldwide, a number even greater than the population living on Italian soil. The growing trend of rediscovering places of origin led the previous government, last February, to launch a dedicated project focused on enhancing small villages as part of the tourism offer for Italians by descent. The project was included in the NRRP and aims to allow people to “reclaim the culture of their origins also through traditions, testimonies, craftsmanship, and gastronomy.”

Six million Italians return to their country of origin every year: this means around sixty million overnight stays and spending of over 4.2 billion euros. This type of tourism takes place throughout the year, with a slight peak in August. The highest number of departures is recorded from Brazil and Argentina, as well as from South America in general. The United States should not be forgotten, nor some European countries such as Germany, where Caterina comes from.

Low-cost travel and the pandemic, which allowed many people to work remotely, have meant that hotels and farm stays, even in the island’s less popular tourist areas, are increasingly full. “In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in visitors of Sicilian origin. Some come from Northern Italy,” explains Francesca Oliva, “others from all over Europe and America. They are all united by the desire to rediscover their roots and enjoy everything the Sicilian territory has to offer.”

The Favola Tour offered by Agricola Oliva, which Caterina and her husband decided to try in order to reconnect with the ancient flavours of childhood, includes a visit to the olive mill, where guests can observe the oil production techniques up close, as well as a walk among the majestic centuries-old olive trees.

“Every day we open the doors of our olive mill and show the dedication and passion that have guided us for more than sixty years in the production of extra virgin olive oil and Femminello PGI lemons from Syracuse. We are proud of our land and believe that the agricultural heritage of our territory makes it even more special and unique. This is why, in our Favola line, we have brought together a selection of the best local cultivars: Tonda Iblea, Moresca, Nocellara Etnea, and Cerasuola, each with very different organoleptic characteristics and aromas.”

The feelings experienced by Caterina during the Favola Tour are similar to those of the many visitors who then leave their reviews: “During our holidays in Sicily,” reads a review on TripAdvisor, “we had the opportunity to discover the oil tasting experience, and it was a truly unique experience that we recommend to everyone! First of all, the explanation of the production process was very interesting and made even better by our guide. And finally, a top-notch tasting, not only of oil but also of local specialities.”

“The owner was extremely helpful,” reads another review on Google. “She dedicated a lot of time to us both during the explanation of the various oil production procedures and during the tasting. The oils are excellent, and Francesca Oliva’s passion and the company’s professionalism are reflected in the quality of the product. A must-try.”

Caterina decided to travel through the places that hold the most beautiful memories of her childhood. Her story, and roots tourism in general, once again show how those who leave Sicily often do so while keeping its memory in their hearts, with the promise that one day they will return, either for a simple journey or never to leave again.