Research Your Ancestors In Sicily From Cruise Terminal Of Messina

There are no words good enough to explain what Sonia and Francesco did for us. They went over and above to search for our ancestry at the local municipality .In just a short time we were walking the street church and gravesite to lay flowers down on my Great Grandparents gravesite. Something we would never have been able to experience on our own . They together walked the cemetery till we found my husbands Great Grandparents resting place . We ended the day with lunch across from the same water his Great Grandfather was a fisherman and feasted on seafood . It was a day like none other They became part of our family so warm and welcoming They knew what it meant to us and never gave up till we found our ancestry . We even have actual paperwork to pass down to our grandchildren so one day they can come right to their family roots . Whether it’s family ancestry or any other excursion in sicily through Viator do yourself the favor and request Sonia and Francesca for a journey of a lifetime . Thank you and all the love in the world to Francesco and Sonia ❤️

Where do I begin . Amazing from the minute we met Sonia and Francesco till the minute we hugged Goodbye. This excursion was so meaningful . We went on Viator search for Ancestry , They took us to lookup Great Grandparents in Milazzo to visiting their town and location of home to laying flowers on their gravesite and then off to an Amazing lunch across from the water where My Great Grandfather was a fisherman . I had very little information and never expected to find all my family heritage . I highly recommend going on a Viator tour if your choice and requesting Sonia and Francesco. Thank You So Much for a once in a lifetime experience , Sincerely Nancy and Anthony Maiorana

Erika and Filippo were fantastic. We scheduled for a Saturday and, without us asking and knowing that town offices would be closed, reached out to those towns in advance and brought certified birth certificates for the relatives we were wanting to learn more about. Erika’s personality and approach connected us with a lot of people in both towns we went to. In the first, she was able to connect us with a cousin we didn’t know we had, and then politely decline their lunch invitation that would have made us unable to visit the second town. During that second visit, we eventually were able to contact a second relative in Pisa who wanted to share their family tree, and Erika offered to relay whatever information they were able to get in the weeks after our visit. The day was lovely, Erika and Filippo were fantastic, and they went above and beyond with the pre-trip work and post-trip follow-up.

An absolutely wonderful service for anyone researching their Sicilian roots. Filippo handled the driving with great professionalism, and Erica was full of fascinating insights about the island’s history and culture. They were both so flexible and attentive to our special requests. The ancestral town visit was deeply meaningful, and the local food tasting at the end was a perfect touch. A 10/10 experience!

Fantastic experience from start to finish! Filippo and Erica went above and beyond to make our ancestry trip special. Everything was perfectly organized, and the local restaurant they chose was amazing. I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

This tour was beyond my expectations! Filippo and Erica made us feel like part of their family. They organized everything perfectly — from finding the little village of Castroreale Messina where my mother was born to booking a restaurant where we tasted the most authentic Sicilian dishes. Erica’s passion for Sicily and Filippo’s friendliness made the whole journey relaxed and joyful. Highly recommend this experience if you want to connect with your Sicilian heritage!

I had the most incredible experience tracing my Sicilian roots with Filippo and Erica! They helped me visit the exact town where my great-grandparents were born, and even arranged for me to meet some locals who shared stories about the area. Filippo was such a kind and careful driver, and Erica’s knowledge of Sicilian history made everything come alive. We ended the day with a delicious traditional meal that truly felt like coming home. Unforgettable!

I came to Sicily with very little information: just my great-grandfather's name and the town he was from, Novara di Sicilia. I booked this tour hoping for a small clue, but the experience was more profound than I could have imagined. Our guide, Erika, was the key. She is a skilled and passionate researcher. It was clear she had done her homework before we even arrived, having already contacted the local offices. She took us directly to the town hall's registry office (Ufficio Anagrafe), where, with her expert help in navigating the bureaucracy and translating the old script, we located my great-grandfather's official birth certificate. Holding that document in my hands was surreal. But the most powerful moment was finding the street where he grew up. Using the address from the certificate, Erika led us through the beautiful, ancient stone streets of the town right to the door. Standing on that spot, picturing my family walking the same path over a century ago, was incredibly emotional. Throughout the day, Filippo was the perfect driver. He handled the winding mountain roads with absolute professionalism, and the luxury vehicle was a comfortable and quiet place to reflect between our discoveries. He’s a true gentleman with a deep love for Sicily. This is not just a tour; it's a highly professional, deeply personal service that connected me to my heritage in a way I never thought possible. Highly recommended.

​We booked this tour as a surprise for our parents' 40th wedding anniversary, to trace my father's family in the area around Sciacca. Handling a group of six with varying ages and interests can be challenging, but Erika and Filippo made it completely seamless and stress-free. The spacious and luxurious van was perfect for our family, ensuring everyone was comfortable. ​Erika's work was simply astonishing. Not only did she locate the marriage certificate of my grandparents, but she also discovered that we still had family living in a nearby town! She sensitively arranged a meeting, acting as a perfect translator and cultural bridge. Watching my father meet his first cousins for the very first time, sharing stories and old photos over an incredible lunch that Filippo recommended, was one of the most emotional and beautiful moments our family has ever shared. ​Filippo was more than a driver; he was our host for the day—patient, kind, and always ready with a cold bottle of water or a suggestion for the best cannoli. This tour gave us more than just information; it gave us a living, breathing connection to our past and a whole new branch of our family. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, perfectly executed. Thank you for giving our family these priceless memories.

My wife and I have dreamed of this trip for decades—to find the home my grandfather left in the mountains near the Madonie Park. From the moment Filippo picked us up in a stunningly comfortable and luxurious Mercedes, we knew we were in good hands. The winding roads were no match for his smooth, professional driving. ​Our guide, Erika, was fantastic. She wasn't just a guide; she was a historian, a translator, and a friend for the day. In the small town of Polizzi Generosa, she had already done preliminary research. Within hours, she navigated the local town hall archives (anagrafe) with a smile and found my grandfather's birth certificate. But the magic didn't stop there. She then led us down a tiny cobblestone alley to the very house he was born in. The emotion was overwhelming. We even met a distant cousin who owns a small bakery nearby, all thanks to Erika striking up a conversation with locals. ​This wasn't just a tour; it was the closing of a circle for my family. The professionalism, the luxury, the genuine care... it was worth every single penny. If you are searching for your roots, do not hesitate. Book with them. It will be one of the most meaningful experiences of your life.

My husband and I have traveled extensively. Taken many excursions; both through cruise ships and privately. Going to see the town where my mother was born in Sicily was always on my bucket list. When I found this excursion on Viator I was excited to give it a try. Our guides, Erika and Filippo, were the most knowledgeable, intelligent, accommodating, guides we’ve EVER had. The entire experience was nothing short of a magical bucket list experience. Highly recommend you ask for Erika and Filippo on your next visit to Sicily.

An absolutely amazing day! Filippo and Erika were THE best tour guides we could’ve ever asked for! Went above and beyond in service and comfort! Would HIGHLY recommend

We had the best day on this tour! It was customized to make our experience the best possible. Not only did Erika and Filippo take us to the town our ancestor was from, but also to some historical sites in Messina and Savona and facilitated lunch reservations and all the translating we needed. They knew all the interesting places to go and Erika knew so much history, we felt we learned so much during the day! We felt like we got so much value for our money and enthusiastically recommend their services to anyone considering them!

Filippo was a very professional, very experienced driver . We had a few requests and he was vey accommodating . We would not hesitate to use this service again and will recommend it to friends and family traveling in the area.