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In this episode of The Italian American Podcast, we talk with Cassandra Santoro from Travel Italian Style. We talk about the mental and emotional aspects of reuniting with family in Italy or just visiting one of your ancestral villages, especially those in southern Italy.

In our Stories Segment, we play a recording from one of our listeners, Antoinette Merenda, who tells us how her family immigrated here, where they came from, and some of the extraordinary research she has done.

Episode Quote

“Homeland is something one becomes aware of only through its loss.” – Gunter Grass

Tweetables

• “Read, write, look around, go for a walk and take everything in when you are in Italy, in a different way.” – Dolores Alfieri
• “Take advantage of Italy when it is quiet and walk down the street, for that is when you get a real sense of your family and things start to click.” – Cassandra Santoro
• “Eat out as much as possible in Southern Italy as you can eat good food, very inexpensively.” – Anthony Fasano
• “When you travel, sit back and reflect on yourself, why you are there, and how you got there.” – Cassandra Santoro
• “When you visit southern Italy, you have to get into the groove and take a nap in the middle of the day.” – Dolores Alfieri
• “Going to any of your ancestral villages is amazing, whether or not you have living relatives there.” – Anthony Fasano
• “You have to invest in yourself, to your well-being, and to something that you are passionate about.” – Cassandra Santoro

About our Guests:

Cassandra Santoro is the CEO and Founder of Travel Italian Style. As a personal trip planner and luxury small group tour operator, Cassandra is an expert in slow travel and authentic and inspiring experiences throughout Italy. She also leads motivational talks and can most recently be found at TEDx DHBW Manhein. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @travelitalianstyle.

Antoinette Carbone is a listener of The Italian American Podcast and has done extensive research on her Italian roots dating back to the 1600’s.  Brava!

Episode Sponsors

The National Italian American Foundation

Resources Mentioned

IAP 32: Tragedy inspires the trip of a lifetime for Cassandra Santoro
The New Neighborhood – A Place for Italian Americans
Christ Stopped at Eboli
Talk to Cassandra

Grazie Mille,

Anthony Fasano and Dolores Alfieri
Co-Hosts, The Italian American Podcast