How long is a Taormina private tour?

Most tours last between 3 and 6 hours, but full-day and multi-day options are available.

Ancestry And amp; Heritage Tours

Ancestry & Heritage Tours

Reconnect with Your Sicilian Roots

Sicily has a proud and storied history of emigration – millions of Sicilians left for the Americas over the past centuries. If you have Sicilian roots, Sicily Wonders can help you reconnect with your heritage in a deeply meaningful way. Our Ancestry & Heritage Research service is designed for Italian-American or Latin American families who wish to discover their Sicilian origins and perhaps walk in the footsteps of their forebears. Here’s how we make your heritage journey special.

Genealogical Research

Before your trip (or during, if you prefer), our team can assist in researching your Sicilian family tree. We collaborate with local municipal archives, church parishes, and genealogy experts to find birth certificates, marriage records, and other documents that can pinpoint your family’s town of origin and even locate living distant relatives. We’ll share any findings with you and plan our itinerary accordingly.

Hometown Visits

We will take you to the exact village or town of your ancestors. Whether it’s a tiny countryside hamlet or a bustling coastal city, setting foot there can be an emotional experience. We arrange for a personalized tour of the town – perhaps visiting the church where your great-grandparents were married, the streets they grew up on, or the cemetery where your ancestors rest. Local residents and officials, pre-informed of your visit, often give a warm welcome. (Don’t be surprised if you’re invited in for coffee by someone who shares your surname!)

Meet the People

If we’ve identified any distant cousins or family connections still living in Sicily, we can help facilitate a meeting. Sharing a meal with newfound relatives or neighbors who remember your family name can be a highlight of the trip. Even without a direct contact, we often engage community members – the local historian, the mayor, or elders – who can share stories about what the town was like when your ancestors lived there. Through an interpreter (if needed), you’ll bridge generations and continents in one afternoon.

Cultural Immersion

To further honor your heritage, we weave in cultural elements of that region of Sicily. For example, if your family came from a village known for wine or cheese, we’ll include a tasting of that product. If there’s a patron saint festival or local celebration around your visit, we ensure you experience it. Essentially, we let you live a day in the life of your ancestors, witnessing the traditions they passed down.