Hello, Genetti Cousins! If you are longing to breathe the crisp alpine air and walk the ancient cobblestone streets where your great-grandparents once stood, we have thrilling news for you. We are proud to announce the publication of a brand-new travel guide: Travel to Castelfondo: Home of Our Ancestors, written by Louise Genetti Roach and just uploaded to our website. This resource is designed specifically for descendants planning a genealogy-based pilgrimage to our beautiful ancestral village in the Val di Non.
Practical Travel Preparation Getting to our semi-isolated alpine paradise takes a little preparation. The guide provides essential advice, like the importance of packing light for cobblestone streets, brushing up on basic Italian, securing an International Driving Permit (IDP), and downloading offline GPS maps to navigate the breathtaking hairpin turns of the Passo Mendola. It also covers the best routes for reaching the valley, such as flying into Milan or Venice and taking a train to nearby Trento or Bolzano.
Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors The highlight of your trip will be connecting with our family’s heritage. The guide details the exact location of the original Genetti homestead, “Casa Lanci,” located at 55 Via Dante Alighieri. It also guides you to the 16th-century Parish Church of San Nicolò and its adjacent cemetery, where you are sure to recognize many familiar family surnames on the headstones.
Immersive Cultural Experiences For a true taste of local life, the guide explains how to book a tour at the Latteria Sociale di Castelfondo to see how they make their exclusive Monteson cheese. It also highlights when to visit for beautiful seasonal traditions, such as the joyous autumn cattle homecoming (La Desmontegada) or the magical winter Feast of San Nicolò.
Where to Rest and Eat You certainly won’t go hungry in the Val di Non! Learn where to enjoy traditional Nonesi dishes like tortel de patate (fried potato cake) paired with a glass of rare, native Groppello di Revò wine. When it’s time to rest, the guide recommends charming local bed-and-breakfasts and farm stays, such as Mas di Siti and Agritur Belsogno B&B.
We hope this guide inspires you to take the trip of a lifetime. Be sure to check out the full travel guide for all the booking links and resources you need to make your journey a reality. Buon viaggio!
You will find our PDF guide “Travel to Castelfondo” under the Gallery section – Travel. Feel free to download, print and share!
The Genetti Family Genealogy Project 