Antonio's Homecoming: A Transformative Family Trip to Italy

Photo supplied by Florence Vacation Photographer Kirstie McConnell of Classico Portraits 

The Wildauers’ recent journey to Italy was more than just a vacation—it was a heartfelt homecoming.

After more than 70 years away, 85-year-old Antonio Monteleone finally returned to the town he left behind as a 12-year-old boy, when his family moved to Canada. His daughter, Gina Wildauer, said the trip was emotional from the very first day.

“For him, just being back on Italian soil meant so much. You could see it in his eyes—the memories, the nostalgia, and the deep connection to the place he had left so many years ago. It was the start of something incredibly meaningful, and even through the exhaustion, there was a quiet joy in finally being back,”

Gina said.

Nestled in the mountains of Northern Reggio Calabria, Cirella was hillier than Antonio remembered—but remarkably, he recognized certain buildings and landmarks throughout the hilltop village. He was even able to point out where his family used to sit during Mass.

“He looked down an alleyway and recalled the exact view from his bedroom window, which was a surreal moment for all of us,” Gina said. “It was touching to watch him reconnect with the places of his youth, even as time and perspective had changed how he remembered them.”

This stop marked the beginning of a transformative family journey. Using their family name, they began asking around to see if any relatives still lived in the area. Sure enough, with help from the local community, the Wildauers located Antonio’s cousins, who embraced them with open arms, inviting them into their home and treating them to espresso and Italian pastries.

“It was a beautiful, heartfelt reunion—something we hadn’t planned for but that made the trip even more special,” Gina said.

For Gina, her husband, and their children,

it was their first time in Italy—

a journey that opened a window into

Antonio’s past, the place he had carried in his heart all these years. Meeting relatives they had never known and experiencing his homeland strengthened their bond to both their heritage and to one another.

“Spiritually and emotionally, it brought us all closer and reminded us of the value of honoring our roots and creating memories that last a lifetime,” Gina said.

Another highlight for the family was gathering for dinner each night—sipping delicious wine,

laughing, and sharing simple moments together. And while the pinnacle of the trip was bringing Antonio back home, the Exceptional Journeys team made sure there was something special for each family member: Gina wanted to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and take family photos in front of the Colosseum, her daughter enjoyed the boat tour in Sorrento and shopping in Florence, her husband and son golfed at a renowned course in Rome, and they even added a Ferrari fast-track driving experience.

One thing Gina knows for sure is that none of it would have been the same without her Exceptional Journeys Travel Advisor, Riley Gaidica.

“Her guidance helped shape a journey that not only honored the heart of the trip

—bringing my father back to his hometown—but also captured the beauty, history, and magic of Italy in a way I’ll never forget,” Gina said. “Riley’s deep knowledge of Italy and her thoughtful suggestions for experiences transformed what could have been just a simple vacation into a truly unforgettable gift.”

Before heading home from Italy, the Wildauers had one last surprise for Antonio: they returned to Cirella once more, concluding their trip in the very place where their family’s story began. For Gina, this bittersweet final visit to her father’s hometown was among the most powerful moments of the trip—filled with joy, nostalgia, and a profound sense of connection.

“As he realized where we were going, I saw tears quietly running down his face. That moment—watching him take it all in one last time—was incredibly powerful. It made every dollar spent, every hour of planning and replanning to get things exactly right, so incredibly worth it,” she said.

Moments like these go beyond travel. Our journeys can be deeply personal, cathartic, and life-changing—creating memories and wisdom that stay in your heart long after the trip ends. It’s exactly why we do what we do.

Let us guide you to new adventures—or back home to the family and roots you’ve been longing for.