Geographies of Identity: Roots Tourism and the Flavors of Memory

May 27, 2025 – Valguarnera 

As part of Geopark Week, the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark hosted the event “Geographies of Identity: Roots Tourism and the Flavors of Memory”, held on Tuesday, May 27 at Palazzo Prato, to collectively reflect on the migratory phenomenon that has deeply shaped the history of the Valguarnera area.

A moment of strong cultural and symbolic value, the event focused on emigration as a shared and identity-building element, highlighting memory, community, and reconnection with places of origin. 

A dialogue between history, life choices, and family roots

The day began with institutional greetings from the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark, the Municipality of Valguarnera, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), represented by Giovanni Maria De Vita, coordinator of the Roots Tourism Project.

This was followed by contributions from:
• Maurizio Giambalvo, Regional Coordinator of the National Project Roots Tourism – Sicily
• Marco Coico, Representative of the Italea Sicilia project

Curated by Prof. Fabrizio Ferreri of the University of Catania, the roundtable “To stay, to leave, to return: making or unmaking a hometown” offered a critical reflection on the dynamics shaping local communities—between continuity and new departures.

The central moment of the event was the dialogue “Hometown Returns”, featuring two special guests:
• Prof. Charles Di Vita, an American biologist of Valguarnera origins, who shared the migration story of his family and their lasting connection to their ancestral land.
• Prof. Giuseppe Sommario, professor at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and director of the Festival delle Spartenze, who spoke about the importance of storytelling and return in rebuilding personal and collective identity.

Tastings, ancient grains, and gastronomic memory
In the evening, the event moved to the Giardino di Sant’Antonino for a convivial moment dedicated to rediscovering traditional flavors and knowledge.

Silvia Turco introduced the audience to the world of ancient grains, a vital resource for agricultural biodiversity and a cultural heritage of the area. This was followed by a show cooking and tasting session curated by the Consorzio Kore Siciliae, which connected historical narratives to sensory experiences in a journey through memory and flavor.
The evening concluded with a traditional music performance and the presentation of an honorary plaque to the Di Vita family by the Valguarneresi nel Mondo Association, as a gesture of recognition and continuity between past and present.

This initiative marked a meaningful moment of dialogue and community participation, bringing people together and strengthening awareness of the territory as a space of identity, culture, and renewal.