Our recent ancestral journey to Abruzzo with Grand Heritage Tours and Travels was a powerful reminder of how travel and heritage weave together. Guests began their trip in L’Aquila the region’s capital where the medieval streets and mountain views set the tone for the week ahead. From there we traveled to small villages tucked into the Apennines many of which had been home to our travelers’ families for generations. Standing in front of centuries-old stone churches and walking cobbled alleys created an immediate sense of belonging.
One of the most meaningful days was spent in Sulmona a town renowned for its Roman history and artisanal traditions. With the help of a local historian the group visited the municipal archives where baptismal records from the 1800s confirmed family names that had been passed down orally for decades. The emotional connection of seeing those names on aged parchment brought many participants to tears. Afterward we gathered in the piazza for a traditional meal of pasta alla chitarra served with stories about how these recipes have been passed down through local families.
The trip also highlighted Abruzzo’s living traditions. Guests visited a shepherd’s farm in the foothills where they sampled fresh pecorino cheese and learned how pastoral life has shaped the culture of the region. We also toured vineyards producing Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine and shared in the local pride of flavors that have defined this land for centuries. Each experience deepened the sense of connection not only to ancestry but also to the ongoing life of the region.
By the end of the week participants carried home more than documents and photographs. They left with friendships forged over shared heritage discoveries and memories of landscapes that matched family stories told for generations. For many this journey became a turning point—transforming abstract family history into a living reality. Abruzzo revealed itself not only as a beautiful region but also as a place of personal meaning that will continue to shape the lives of those who return to it.