In the rolling hills of Basilicata near Matera lies Ferrandina — a small hilltop town of whitewashed houses, narrow cobblestone streets, that towers over centuries-old olive groves. This is where my family’s story began.
In the 1890s, members of my family began leaving Ferrandina for the United States. My great grandfather “James” Perretti immigrated in the 1890’s. His future daughter-in-law, the grandmother I grew up with, Margarita “Margaret” Magliano made the journey in 1911. Just a child, she didn’t speak a word of English, but held tightly to her mother Rosa’s hand as they stepped into a strange new world — leaving behind the familiar rhythms of small-town Italian life: the church bells, the scent of fresh bread, the way neighbors always stopped to talk in the street.
More than a century later, I decided to dig deeper. I visited Ferrandina. I reached out to the few remaining living relatives. And, I dove into genealogy research, learning how to uncover birth certificates from the 1800s and tracing my roots through old records. What I found surprised me — not only was every branch of my family tree rooted in Ferrandina, but I also discovered many previously unknown siblings of my grandparents and great-grandparents. I have become the genealogy expert in the family! And, by my calculation, I’m probably related to half the residents of the town.
Curio Italia is my way of connecting the dots.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve felt a pull to slow down, to reflect, and to understand the roots that shaped me. I’ve traveled for much of my life, but now I travel differently: with curiosity, intention, and a desire to connect the dots between my personal history and the history of Italy itself.
I didn’t create Curio Italia to make a fortune — rather, to make moments. Each tour is part of my own journey to recover these roots and better understand the peaceful history my family left behind. I’m learning alongside my guests — walking the same streets my ancestors knew, hearing stories from locals, and discovering the Italy that lives beyond the guidebooks.
When you travel with Curio Italia, you’re not just visiting Italy — you’re stepping into a living story. For my family, the Italian story stretches back for centuries, but our American chapter began 130 years ago, when my family first left Ferrandina.
Today, that story continues every time we explore it together. I invite you to add to that story.
LUCAS PERRETTI
