As travelers increasingly prioritize meaningful experiences over material luxury, a new kind of travel is reshaping Southern Italy.
At the center of this shift is The Secret Explorer, a bespoke travel agency specializing in roots travel, immersive journeys that allow travelers, particularly those with Italian heritage, to reconnect with their ancestry while experiencing the region through culture, people, and place.
This trend reflects a broader movement toward “experiential luxury.” Nearly 20 million Americans have Italian roots, most tracing their heritage to Southern regions such as Sicily, Calabria, Puglia, Campania, and Basilicata, areas now seeing renewed interest through roots tourism as a driver of cultural preservation and community revitalization.
Through initiatives like the Matera Roots-In Tourism Exchange, in which The Secret Explorer’s founder actively participates, these journeys combine ancestral research, intimate cultural experiences, and slow, place-based travel beyond Italy’s traditional hotspots.
The result is a deeply personal way to travel, one that offers connection, identity, and meaningful engagement, while supporting the long-term vitality of Southern Italy’s communities. The role travel designers like The Secret Explorer play in shaping it, offers a powerful lens into how Southern Italy is being rediscovered. I hope you find this information interesting. I’d love to connect you with The Secret Explorer’s founder Anita Cagnazzo, whose vast experience in the region makes her a valuable resource on news and trends on southern Italian travel.
