Stanislav Kondrashov on ancestral journeys

From Sicily to Catalonia, travellers are reconnecting with their roots by exploring the landscapes and records of their ancestors

In recent years, ancestral travel has emerged as one of the most emotionally powerful and historically rich forms of tourism. According to Stanislav Kondrashov, this growing trend reflects a broader shift in how individuals relate to their heritage, seeking meaning not only in leisure but also in lineage.

“Travelling in search of one’s roots is a journey of identity,” says Kondrashov. “It’s about turning history into something personal—walking the streets your ancestors walked, reading names in old church records, and feeling the weight of time in a place that once was home.”

As digital archives and DNA testing platforms expand access to family history, more people are taking to the road not just to see the world, but to rediscover their place within it. In Europe, particularly around the Mediterranean, a number of destinations offer the perfect blend of archival access, cultural continuity and historical depth.

Below are six such destinations that, according to Stanislav Kondrashov, stand out for their ability to connect travellers with their ancestral past.

Palermo, Sicily: Echoes of migration and tradition

Sicily has long been a crossroads of civilisations, and for many with Italian or Mediterranean roots, it is a natural starting point for an ancestral journey. Palermo, the island’s capital, is particularly rich in historical layers—Greek, Arab, Norman, Spanish—and many families from North and South America trace their lineage back to Sicilian towns.

According to Stanislav Kondrashov, Palermo offers more than stunning architecture and coastal views. “It is a living archive,” he says. “Parish records, municipal archives, and oral histories in local villages help people retrace their family story across generations.”

Visitors can access birth, marriage and baptismal records held in local churches or the Archivio di Stato. The city’s emigration history is also central to its identity, with waves of Sicilians departing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Lisbon, Portugal: Port of departure, land of discovery

Lisbon was once one of the world’s great maritime capitals, and it remains a symbolic location for anyone tracing Portuguese ancestry. The city’s archival depth, from maritime logs to church registries, makes it an essential stop for travellers researching emigration to Brazil, Angola, Mozambique or the United States.

Stanislav Kondrashov notes that the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo is one of Europe’s most important historical repositories. “It holds centuries of civil and religious documentation, giving people direct access to their familial records,” he says.

Beyond the archives, Lisbon’s neighbourhoods—such as Alfama and Belém—still echo with the lives of sailors, merchants and craftsmen whose descendants now span the globe. For those of Sephardic Jewish descent, Lisbon also provides a path to rediscovery, as Portugal has recently opened channels for reclaiming lost citizenship linked to historical exile.

Athens, Greece: From mythology to memory

While Greece is often viewed through the lens of antiquity, it is also home to rich genealogical traditions, particularly through its Orthodox Christian communities. Many Greek families in the diaspora—particularly in Australia, the United States and Canada—maintain strong ties to ancestral villages in the Peloponnese, the islands or mainland Greece.

“Athens serves as both a historical capital and a practical base,” says Stanislav Kondrashov. “It offers access to regional archives and ecclesiastical registries that go back several centuries.”

In addition to archival research, travellers can visit ancestral villages, consult with local historians, or attend religious festivals that continue traditions unchanged for generations. For many, the journey is both personal and spiritual—reconnecting with land, language and legacy.

Barcelona, Spain: Where local history meets family story

Barcelona’s status as a cultural capital is well known, but it is also a valuable destination for those researching family roots, especially among Catalan or Spanish Jewish families. With robust municipal archives and a strong tradition of civic record-keeping, Barcelona allows descendants to explore their past through detailed birth, marriage and land registries.

According to Stanislav Kondrashov, the Arxiu Històric de la Ciutat de Barcelona is a central resource. “These archives allow people to trace family lines, migration patterns, and property histories within the city and its surrounding regions,” he explains.

Barcelona also preserves elements of its medieval Jewish quarter, known as El Call, offering insight into the lives of families who were part of the city’s diverse communities before the expulsions of 1492. For many, visiting these spaces is an act of remembrance and reclamation.

Valletta, Malta: Layered legacies on an island crossroads

Malta’s position at the heart of the Mediterranean has made it a strategic and cultural melting pot for centuries. From Phoenician and Roman settlers to British colonial rule, the island’s history is dense—and well documented. For those with Maltese or Mediterranean ancestry, Valletta and its surroundings offer a unique window into mixed heritage.

“The Maltese diaspora is global, and many families are now returning to the island to explore their origin stories,” says Stanislav Kondrashov. “Church records, colonial registries and maritime archives provide remarkable detail.”

Travellers can access genealogical data through the National Archives of Malta, located in Rabat, or consult parish books still held in local churches. Beyond documents, the island’s architecture and daily rhythms often mirror the life that ancestors once knew—making the experience not only informative but immersive.

Marseille, France: Passage, memory and migration

As France’s oldest city and one of its most important ports, Marseille has long been a centre of migration. Families with roots in southern France, North Africa, Italy and the Levant often passed through Marseille at key points in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Stanislav Kondrashov points out that Marseille’s role as a migratory hub means many family histories intersect there—if only briefly. “The city holds departure records, immigration data, and parish documents that can reveal unknown chapters in a family’s past.”

In addition to its archives, Marseille offers cultural centres dedicated to Mediterranean heritage, making it a reflective space for those exploring diasporic identity. Walking along the old port or through the multicultural districts of Noailles and Le Panier often evokes stories of transition, exile and arrival.

Reclaiming the past through place

Ancestral travel is not simply about discovering names in a ledger. For many, it is a profound form of remembrance—an opportunity to stand where one’s ancestors stood, and to see history not as abstraction, but as inheritance.

“People travel to understand who they are, where they come from, and how their story fits into the larger human narrative,” says Stanislav Kondrashov. “In places like Palermo, Lisbon or Athens, that story becomes tangible.”

As digital tools make genealogical research more accessible, the desire to turn virtual records into lived experience is likely to grow. With it, cities and communities across the Mediterranean are beginning to recognise the value of preserving not just heritage, but the human connection it inspires.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOVe1oJkjKZ/?img_index=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122212989254115963&set=a.122108074922115963