We share a new and touching contribution by Beatrice Dummer, our esteemed collaborator, who continues to explore the profound nuances of emigration and the meaning of the “Journey to the Roots” in a recently published article. This piece further enriches the dialogue already started with his previous publication, “La Bella Italia: Redescobrindo as Raizes Italianas”, which we had the pleasure of resuming on our blog.
In her latest article, Bea takes us to the heart of the Italea program through an interview with Marco Zaccarelli, contact person for Italea Piemonte. The conversation focuses on how Italea supports Italian descendants in their search for their roots, offering an experience that goes far beyond simple tourism. It is a deeply personal and immersive journey, which helps travelers discover family records, connect with local communities and visit places that hold the memory of their ancestors.
A central theme is the reflection on emigration, a phenomenon that, 150 years after the arrival of Italians in Brazil, remains surprisingly current. Bea highlights how the narrative of emigration – often an unwanted choice, but dictated by the need to seek better living conditions – still resonates today. This sacrifice led to immense challenges, from crossing the ocean in precarious conditions to building new lives from scratch.
The article also explores the universal concept of “saudade“, a word that, although it does not have an exact translation into Italian (“nostalgia” or “lack” come close), captures the deep feeling of those who leave and those who, although descendants, feel a call to Italy without ever having visited it. Marco Zaccarelli compares descendants to “gigantic trees, which cross the centuries with deep roots and branches that extend towards the future”, underlining how genealogical research, facilitated by Italea, allows us to reconnect with these lost branches, honoring the past in the present.
The “Journey to the Roots” with Italea is not only the discovery of names and dates, but the possibility of “treading the land of the ancestors, walking the same roads, visiting the village where they lived and, in many cases, the house where they lived“. It is an experience that allows you to find a “missing piece”, materializing memory and allowing a deep recognition of yourself in the landscape of your ancestors.
As Bea points out, in an era dominated by digital, the article launches a reflection on the importance of documenting our history in a physical way, to ensure that future generations can learn about their roots.
This new publication by Beatrice Dummer reinforces the fundamental message that we have already explored in her previous article, where she highlighted how the Italea program transforms the search for roots into an “unforgettable homecoming“. The collaboration with Beatrice continues to be a pillar for us at Italea Piemonte, helping us to communicate the true essence of this emotional and historical journey.
