Heritage Tour- Find your Roots in Sicily

We experienced a fantastic tour with Valentina and driver Dario. We wanted to explore the homeland of my husband's grandfather and other ancestors, all from Partanna, Sicily. Valentina took the family names we provided and worked with the local authorities to find interesting facts. We were able to see the actual birth record written in a journal from 1897. So amazing. Also the death record of his great grandfather in 1911. The local authority took us to the neighborhood that his grandfather lived in. We walked the same streets. Valentina provided a great tour of the village, shared it's history, including how the town was destroyed and rebuilt after the 1968 earthquake. We were also able to see the cemetary where his ancestors were buried. We finished the day with a special lunch at a local restaurant. Yummy. Brava Valentina!! 10 stars 🌟 🤩 We have always had fabulous experiences with TBL but this was extra special.

WOW, what exquisite service and a unique custom experience. Do you want to be whisked away to the serene countryside with a true historian and cultural liaison? Do you appreciate non-touristy experiences and learning all about the secrets of a locale? One word: Valentina! As our caring and extremely thoughtful and organized guide, she will sort out a day catered to your needs, finding all the things, places, and experiences that you would certainly not be able to find on your own. Discover the real heart of Sicily and book Valentina as your guide. This is a once in a lifetime experience, so don’t miss it!

Reality rarely exceeds expectation but our day with Valentina did just that! I chose Valentina as my guide from several that I reached out to because she seemed to be the most knowledgeable and most willing to plan the day as I wanted, rather than by a typical tourist’s interest. Not only did we have lots of communication prior to our visit but she made inquiries on my behalf before our arrival, made an appointment at the municipality, hired a driver for us and worked in everything that I wanted to do, including being my translator when we met a distant cousin for the first time. Valentina’s knowledge of the art and history of Sicily is truly amazing and her enthusiasm makes the experience even more rich. I could not have hoped for a better experience!

We will never forget this special day Valentina had planned for us! We brought my mom to Sicily to learn more about our ancestors. Valentina coordinated with the municipality in Sambuca to see our Nano's birth certificate, took us to where he may have lived, to explore the village, and finally to the cemetery where we learned even more about our family surname! She is so knowledgeable and warm! Her passion for her work really made our day! ❤️

We can't say enough good things about Valentina from Tours by Locals. Before our trip she made multiple phone calls to the Termini Immerese municipality to ask for the copies of the birth certificates of our relatives. At the municipality we received certified copies of my grandparents birth and marriage certificates. We then went to the cemetery and walked around Termini Immerese and had lunch on the water. Valentina & driver Dario were awesome! We would recommend her as a tour guide

I highly recommend Tours by Locals... And I would highly recommend Valentina as your guide. She was very helpful in obtaining information about our ancestry (Find your roots tour) and knowledgeable about the region. Valentina was very professional and personable. Thanks for making our trip to Corleone a memorable one...one we will never forget!!!!