The search for one’s origins is a fascinating journey that often reveals unexpected stories and deep connections. This is the case of Bianca Giordana, a young Piedmontese who, with the precious support of Italea Piemonte, embarked on an exciting adventure in Argentina to reconstruct the traces of her great-grandfather, Umberto Calamaio, who emigrated at the beginning of the twentieth century. This journey, beyond the mere retrieval of documents, led to a touching family reunion and the rediscovery of a priceless cultural legacy.
Bianca was keen to understand more about her great-grandfather’s stay in Argentina, particularly whether he would benefit from Argentine laws that offered land to Piedmontese migrants. Despite the difficulties in finding specific documents, the Italea Piemonte project has proved to be a fundamental ally. Thanks to a contact provided by the team, Bianca was able to meet Maxi, who guided her to the Chiantore family in La Para, a place where great-grandfather Umberto had spent time after working in Córdoba. Umberto Calamaio lived in Argentina for 11 years, exploring different areas such as Paraná and Iguazú, before traveling for a decade between Italy and France.
The meeting with the Chiantore family was a moment of great emotion and surprise. The Chiatorore family, who had never undertaken a search for their Italian roots, were deeply impressed by Bianca’s arrival. Through the memories of the elderly Nestor Chiantore, a moving truth emerged: Bianca’s great-grandfather had taught members of the Chiatorore family to read and write. A gesture of profound impact that, as Bianca says, “changed the life of the whole family, which now has a successful local business and organizes all the sporting life of the town.” This testimony was strengthened by the discovery of a photo in which Umberto affectionately called the Chiantores “my students”. The mystery about his main business remains – whether he was a land buyer or a guardian – but his impact is undeniable.
This extraordinary discovery has not only enriched Bianca’s family history, but has also highlighted the crucial role of Italian emigrants in the cultural and social formation of entire communities abroad. Great-grandfather Umberto, with his gesture of literacy, was a pioneer, contributing to the development and affirmation of a family that still bears its mark today.
Bianca’s story is a powerful example of how the search for roots goes far beyond documents. As Bianca brilliantly expressed in her letter of thanks, “Reconstructing the history of migration through stories with a small ‘s’, like that of my great-grandfather, in the broader context of the history with a capital ‘S’ of newly formed Italy at the beginning of the twentieth century, is invaluable for understanding the capillarity of Italian culture, the value and pain of migration”.
Italea Piemonte, with its commitment and collaboration with the network of Piedmontese associations in Argentina, confirms itself as an essential bridge between Piedmont and its diasporas in the world. Stories like that of Bianca Giordana concretely demonstrate the importance of projects such as Italea, which, also supported by NextGenerationEU funds, make it possible to reassemble pieces of family stories and, in a broader framework, to better understand the identity of the Italian people, who were formed and enriched even outside national borders.
The propensity for contact with the outside world, which characterized Bianca’s great-grandfather, has been passed down from generation to generation, making her granddaughter a person with a deep understanding of migration dynamics and the importance of cultural heritage.
Stories like that of Bianca are tangible proof that the search for origins is a path full of discoveries, connections and an inestimable human and cultural value.
To learn more about Bianca Giordana’s story, you can read the full article: Bianca Giordana, a life in Italy with her heart in Argentina.
