EN
ITMISSION
Our mission is to transform historical memory into a living, interactive experience, creating a digital bridge between the history of migration and new generations. Through "Tracing Italian Roots", a free-access web app, we enable anyone to walk the streets of the world and discover, right on their smartphone screen, the legacy left by Italians. We empower users to tap a point on a map and journey back in time to the small Italian village where it all began, celebrating the roots, ingenuity, and passion that have exported the excellence of the Bel Paese globally.
This emotional bridge is the culmination of a journey guided by the vision of Fabio Castagna, Creative Director & CEO of GlobalMedia, who for over thirty years has believed in the internet as a powerful human and cultural network. Our mission took shape in 2022 with COME-BACK, a project that mapped the dispersed treasures of the Gonzaga dynasty worldwide. It then evolved in 2024 with AroundMEny, capturing the Italian soul within the metropolis of New York City. This evolution led us to 2025 and the official debut of Tracing Italian Roots at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C. There, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the initiative as a Special Project, recognizing it as a model of synergy between culture and technology, and designating it as a benchmark case study for the COM.IT.ES USA network.
This emotional bridge is the culmination of a journey guided by the vision of Fabio Castagna, Creative Director & CEO of GlobalMedia, who for over thirty years has believed in the internet as a powerful human and cultural network. Our mission took shape in 2022 with COME-BACK, a project that mapped the dispersed treasures of the Gonzaga dynasty worldwide. It then evolved in 2024 with AroundMEny, capturing the Italian soul within the metropolis of New York City. This evolution led us to 2025 and the official debut of Tracing Italian Roots at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C. There, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the initiative as a Special Project, recognizing it as a model of synergy between culture and technology, and designating it as a benchmark case study for the COM.IT.ES USA network.
"We are not just creating a map; we are bringing a soul to life: the living map of Italian heritage."
Fabio Castagna, Curator
Today, our commitment goes beyond preservation: we transform ancient archives into the heartbeat of a collective memory. Combining historical rigor, augmented reality, and memories gathered by students and volunteers, the voices of grandparents become a shared heritage.
Yet, this journey extends far beyond a screen. We aim to reconnect people with their homeland by promoting "Roots Tourism" (Heritage Tourism). Thanks to our partnership with the ITALEA portal, we actively guide users on their return journeys to their ancestral villages. To achieve this, we are weaving a vast digital mosaic that unites Consulates, Italian Cultural Institutes, museums, and historical archives—a global network designed to bridge two worlds, strengthen our community’s identity, and celebrate Italian pride worldwide. And for those unable to travel, Italy will come to them, turning technology into a vessel for memory and taste into the flavor of home.