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Ever since I was a little girl, for as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to visit Italy, specifically Arpino, with my grandparents. I’ve always wanted my papa to come with me and show me around his town, but since he passed years ago, I didn’t get the chance to take that trip with him and my nonna together. When I first set foot in Italy for my four-month study abroad trip, I felt so happy and excited. This was my dream. I met new people, took many onsite classes across Italy, and traveled around Europe. With that, something still felt off; I was missing that closeness and home feeling I thought I would have immediately, especially knowing he wasn’t there to share it with me.

That feeling stuck with me until I took the train to Arpino with my nonna while she was visiting me. Fulfilling this dream for myself and for him was very important to me. I wanted to make sure my nonna enjoyed this trip back to my papa’s town as stress-free as possible. I tried my best to navigate and take control for her so she could relax and reminisce. I was stressed at times, especially with transportation in a smaller town, but I would always let her know, “I’ve got it.”

Finally arriving there gave me that feeling I had been yearning for the whole time I was in Italy, and for my nonna, that moment brought her back to when they would sit outside the cafe and talk with family. I stood there trying to imagine him here, living his life as a child before coming to the States. My nonna shared with me everything he showed her when he brought her.

• The Fountain: Where he would run and play around this beautiful fountain as a child.
• His Childhood Street: To Panaccio, the street he grew up on.
• The Church: To where he was baptized, as we made our way to Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo and prayed.

We made our way to the church, and in that moment, I was in awe. I couldn’t believe I was here and that I made it. I thought about how this town held so much emotion for me, and I was beyond proud to be there and have these memories forever. I remember being so excited to share this day with the rest of our family. When I first landed in Italy, I thought flying there would bring out the deep connection I had dreamed about as a little girl. But standing there, I realized it wasn’t about making it to Italy; it was about the town of Arpino this whole time. Afterward, my Nonna and I sat down to have our Italian hot chocolate with pastries, and as we chatted, she shared more memories that made us both laugh and shed a few happy tears together as we waited for our train back to Rome.

Going to Arpino changed my entire trip abroad, because I realized that finding your family history is about keeping those memories and traditions alive.

Do you have a family hometown you dream of visiting one day?

Learn More: To plan your own trip, you can check out schedules directly on the official Trenitalia Rail Guide