Rome, March 17, 2025 – “We are excited to announce that Italian-Australian comedian and actor Joe Avati will embark on an exciting journey to Italy in search of his roots. This is not his first visit to the Belpaese, but this time he will have a completely unique and unforgettable experience that will take him-thanks to ITALEA-to immerse himself in the authentic traditions, culture, and flavors of his origins.” Giovanni Maria De Vita, Embassy Counsellor and head of the Roots Tourism Project at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation thus presents Joe Avati’s roots trip, which will be in Calabria from March 18 to 23.
Avati was born in Australia but his parents are originally from Reggio Calabria, specifically from the small towns of Melicuccà and Rizziconi. He is a popular comedian especially among Italians and descendants of Italians in Australia, but also in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. He puts together Calabrian dialect and English in his shows. Avati is now ready to discover the homeland of his parents and grandparents along with its traditions and customs, its flavors, its people and its beauty. And he will do so thanks to Italea, the program to promote root tourism, launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation within the PNRR project and funded by NextGenerationEU.
The project aims to attract Italians abroad and Italian-descendants intent on discovering the places and traditions of their origins by providing a set of services to facilitate travel to Italy. It is dedicated both to those who already know their Italian origins – like Joe Avati – and want to organize a trip to rediscover the places, customs and culture of their ancestors, and to those who have yet to identify them.
The actor will meet his family of origin together with the local community and participate in events and activities such as traditional cooking workshops, handicrafts and moments of conviviality that will allow him to fortify his bond with his homeland. He will, in addition, have the opportunity to immerse himself in local customs and visit the beauty of the area.
“For those seeking their roots, these experiences provide a unique opportunity to connect with the history and culture of a place they have always heard about,” explains De Vita.
The stops on Avati’s trip, organized by Italea Calabria, will include some of the region’s most charming towns such as Reggio Calabria, Pizzo Calabro, Palmi, Scilla, Spilinga, Ciminà and Canolo. After a meeting with Calabria Region President Roberto Occhiuto, scheduled for March 18, he will be in his hometowns Melicuccà and Rizziconi (province of Reggio Calabria): there Avati will have the opportunity to hug relatives, consult documents-such as birth or marriage certificates-visit the cemetery where his ancestors are buried as well as meet genealogists, artisans, and chefs, who will guide him on a journey of learning and discovery.
“This trip represents for me a return to my roots, but also a discovery of aspects that I have never fully experienced. It is not the famous city in Italy that interests me, but the land where my ancestors lived. I want to connect with my family’s history and culture in a deep and authentic way, and there is no better way to do that than through small daily discoveries that tell the story of the bond that connects me to Calabria,” said Joe Avati.
Fans can follow Joe Avati’s journey on social media where the comedian will document every moment of the experience.
This trip is not only an opportunity for Joe Avati to explore his roots, but also an invitation to all Italian-descendants to come on a roots trip to Italy to rediscover a part of themselves as well as the beauty of our country.
The article A journey to discover roots: Joe Avanti returns to Italy for a unique experience thanks to Italea comes from TheNewyorkese.
