My DNA Bucket List | Where I Want to Travel Based On Genetics (2024 Update)

If I don’t narrow down a travel bucket list somehow, it would probably be a list full of… everywhere in the world! There are very few places I wouldn’t go if given the opportunity. Like, if an all-expenses-paid trip to Antarctica was laid out in front of me, you bet I’d muster the courage to make that treacherous boat ride across the Drake Passage!

Anyway, I figured I’d start with where I want to go based on the results of my Ancestry DNA test since there’s a connection to each of these countries that I’d love to learn more about.

I was both surprised and not surprised by the results I got back from Ancestry. I’m basically a European mutt, which just makes sense, honestly.

UPDATE: Since the original publish date, Ancestry has updated my DNA results several times. As more people take DNA tests, the comparison pool grows more extensive, and they can more accurately pinpoint what ethnicity region your DNA looks like. So, I have included some original stats and screenshots for comparison.

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My Background

So, I grew up with the predominantly Italian-American side of my mother’s family, mainly my grandmother and one of her sisters. Despite being two generations removed from Italian immigrants, I feel very much Italian.

Right now, I am mentally pinching my fingers together on my left hand and bouncing them in front of my face to accentuate that word feel. Using my hands to reiterate what I’m saying – I do it all the time! That’s pretty Italian, no?

As Italian as I feel, I don’t see an Italian-American when I look in the mirror. I don’t resemble my grandmother’s sisters or my aunts and cousins with their olive skin, thick dark hair, and brown eyes. My fair complexion and blue-grey eyes scream some kind of English-Irish-Germanic mixture – just as Ancestry reports. DNA is so weird.

I know very little about my father and his side of the family. As well as my maternal grandfather and his family origins. I have to assume that the bulk of my non-Italian DNA comes from them.

My Ancestry Make Up

A DNA ancestry results map and chart for Brittany, showing her ancestral regions in Europe. The pie chart on the left indicates five regions: 38% Southern Italy & Eastern Mediterranean, 26% Ireland, 23% Germanic Europe, 9% England & Northwestern Europe, and 4% Scotland. A map on the right highlights these regions, with areas in Germany, Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and surrounding regions shaded in different colors to match the chart. Updated in July 2024. — My Ancestry.com Ethnicity Estimate Overview from 2024.

Ancestry.com ethnicity estimate overview — My Ancestry.com Ethnicity Estimate Overview from 2020

2020 Original

England, Wales + Northwestern Europe 40%
Ireland + Scotland 24%
Italy 21%
France 8%
Greece + the Balkans 4%
Germanic Europe 3%

2024 Update

Southern Italy & the Eastern Mediterranean 38%
Ireland 26%
Germanic Europe 23%
England & Northwestern Europe 9%
Scotland 4%

Seeing Italy at the top of the list is incredibly validating. Italian man in Italy asked me what I was, and I couldn’t give him a straight answer at first. That was my very first existential crisis!

Also, I can’t really deny my Italian heritage with a surname like Quaglieri, even though it’s not even my familial name. However, that is a story for another time!

Where I Want to Travel Based On My Genes

Now, based on my Ancestry test results, here is my DNA bucket list!

Alt text: A DNA ancestry map for the Southern Italy & Eastern Mediterranean region, showing areas shaded in green across parts of Italy, Greece, Turkey, and nearby Mediterranean countries. Text below the map indicates a 38% ancestral estimate for this region, with a possible range from 32% to 42%. An accompanying photo depicts a Mediterranean landscape with green hills and wildflowers under a cloudy sky.

Alt text: A DNA ancestry map highlighting the Central Eastern Italy region, shaded in orange, with a focus on the L'Aquila Province. The map shows a region in central Italy, and accompanying text explains that shared ancestors connect individuals to this area, where family may have lived for years. The text notes a connection to 110 people from a family tree, with a "View timeline" link provided.

Southern Italy & the Eastern Mediterranean 38%

Compared to the other sections, the Italian section in my DNA report is more fine-tuned and specific. It drills my DNA down to the L’Aquila, roughly the dark orange area pictured above. And it tracks since I’ve managed to trace this branch of my family tree back to the 1660s in this region.

This also happens to be the part of my family history that I know the most about, and I don’t even know all that much since my family isn’t big on information sharing. What I do know is that my maternal great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from a small town in the early 1900s.

Italy was the first European country I ever went to for a travel seminar and spring break trip in college. While exploring Florence, Pisa, Siena, and Rome that week, my friend and I looked up my grandmother’s maiden name in the hotel phone book (yes, I was in college THAT long ago). I never thought I’d find page after page after page of fellow Ferrones!

It’s so exciting to think that I might meet some cousins when I travel there again!

Alt text: A scenic landscape in Abruzzo, Italy, featuring golden fields stretching across a valley, surrounded by rocky hills and patches of greenery. A rainbow arches across the sky, set against a backdrop of dark clouds and distant mountains. The scene captures the dramatic beauty of the region with a mix of sunlight and shadow. — Abruzzo, Italy © Linux_RT | Pixabay

My DNA Bucket List Places in Italy

Ofena | This is where the majority of my ancestors have lived for the last 350+ years and where my great-grandparents, Maria and Giuseppe, lived before moving to the US. According to Ancestry, my Great-grandfather x7, Francesco Moscardelli, was born in Ofena in 1666. So far, that’s as far back as I have traced my family tree.

Castel del Monte | This town popped into my family tree in about 1825, and its ancestors can be traced back to 1712. It’s only a 25-30 minute drive away from Ofena, so I’d say that’s worth a visit!

Villa Santa Lucia | Only one ancestor in my family tree was born in this town, but it’s only an 8-10 minute drive from Ofena. Plus, it’s on the way to Castel del Monte. So, I might as well, right?

Alt text: A DNA ancestry map highlighting Ireland, shaded in blue, indicating a 26% ancestral estimate for this region, with a range from 17% to 28%. The map centers on Ireland and the surrounding areas. Below the map, a photo depicts a scenic view of the Irish countryside with green rolling hills, a stone fence, and a cloudy sky. — Isn’t it funny that Brittany, France, is highlighted in this region?

Alt text: A DNA ancestry map showing the Connacht region in Ireland, shaded in blue, with a focus on North Connacht and North Mayo. The map highlights Galway as a key location within this area. Accompanying text explains that shared ancestors connect individuals to this region, where family may have lived for years, and some relatives may still reside. A "View timeline" link is also displayed.

Ireland 26%

When I talk about travel with people, most are surprised to learn that I haven’t been to Ireland yet! I am stunned by this fact, as well. Long before I did my DNA test, Ireland had topped my travel bucket list.

Like with Italy, a recent Ancestry update drilled my Irish DNA down to an Irish province (Connacht) and county (Mayo).

With a little more information about my father and my mother’s father, I bet I could track down some relatives!

Alt text: A serene landscape in County Mayo, Ireland, featuring a winding dirt path leading through grassy fields toward a gently sloping hill. A small stream runs parallel to the path, with blue skies and fluffy white clouds overhead. The scene captures the peaceful, open countryside typical of the region. — Achill Island, County Mayo, Ireland © Conor Hennessy | Unsplash

My DNA Bucket List Places in Ireland and Scotland

County Mayo, Ireland | Aside from my ancestors hailing from here, my grandfather’s name is Mayo. Such a cool name. He was also such a cool guy. That’s a fun reason to travel somewhere, right? County Mayo is known for having the third-highest cliffs in Europe at Croaghaun, Achill Island, and some of the most picturesque landscapes in all of Ireland.

Alt text: A DNA ancestry map highlighting the Germanic Europe region, shaded in orange, with an ancestral estimate of 23% for this area, ranging from 12% to 26%. The highlighted regions include Germany, parts of Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and surrounding countries. Below the map, a photo showcases a scenic alpine landscape with green fields, trees, and snow-capped mountains in the background.

Germanic Europe 23%

Could this be remnants of Anglo-Saxon ancestors who immigrated to the British Isles? Perhaps. Despite the considerable percentage, the nomadic Germanic people spread far and wide across the continent during the Iron Age. So, ancestors would be impossible to trace, but it is worth visiting and imagining how far back in time they existed.

Alt text: A panoramic view of Munich, Germany, with the iconic twin domes of the Frauenkirche prominently visible on the right. The city's rooftops stretch across the frame, bathed in warm sunlight under a clear blue sky. The scene captures the historic and architectural charm of the city with its blend of traditional and modern buildings. — Munich, Germany © Philipp Bachhuber | Unsplash

My DNA Bucket List Places in Germany

Munich | I’d love to visit Munich in the winter to explore the Christmas Markets, drink all the Glühwein, and eat all the German sweets and snacks. As the capital of Bavaria, Munich is a great starting location to explore the rest of Bavaria, including the Neuschwanstein Castle, Nuremberg, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Alt text: A DNA ancestry map highlighting the England & Northwestern Europe region, shaded in pink, with an ancestral estimate of 9%, ranging from 5% to 19%. The highlighted areas include parts of England, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Below the map, a photo features a scenic view of the English countryside with rolling green hills, stone barns, and a winding road through fields.

England & Northwestern Europe 9%

I find this portion of my DNA fascinating because of the region’s history of human movement. It’s a mish-mash of Celtic, Roman, Viking, Norman, and Anglo-Saxon bloodlines and cultures. Because of this (and the considerably low percentage), who’s to know what lineage I actually have ties to?!

I have been to London and absolutely loved it! However, there is so much more I want to see in this country.

Alt text: A woman stands smiling in front of Tower Bridge in London, England, during the early evening. The iconic bridge, illuminated with blue and white lights, spans the River Thames in the background, with its twin towers rising against a pastel sky. The scene captures a peaceful moment by the river as daylight fades.

My DNA Bucket List Places in England

Any town that is also a town in Massachusetts | Did you know there are over 150 towns in the UK that share a name with towns in Massachusetts? For years now, I’ve been marking them on a Google map and plotting a big road trip to visit all of them!

All the English Historical Sites | I’ve had a healthy fascination with British history since I was a kid. – I find the early medieval, medieval, and Tudor periods utterly fascinating. I would love to visit York and Northumberland to see some historic Viking sites.

Oxford | Britain’s oldest university? Yes, please! Plus, all the filming locations for Saltburn, Harry Potter, and A Discovery of Witches, the final resting places of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, and the pub they met at to discuss their legendary stories.

Alt text: A DNA ancestry map highlighting the Scotland region, shaded in brown, with an ancestral estimate of 4%, ranging from 1% to 12%. The map focuses on Scotland and nearby areas in the United Kingdom. Below the map, a photo shows a rugged Scottish landscape featuring a large rock on a mossy shore, with misty mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

Scotland 4%

I can’t tell you how much I love that I get to say that I am 4% Scottish. I am sure true Scots won’t love it even a fraction as much as I do, though.

Alt text: A dramatic landscape in Glen Coe, Scotland, featuring towering, rugged mountains with patches of snow under a partly cloudy blue sky. A winding road cuts through the valley floor, surrounded by brown and golden hues of grass and heather. The scene captures the raw, natural beauty and majesty of the Scottish Highlands.

My DNA Bucket List Places in Scotland

Scottish Highlands| While most filming for the show Outlander did not actually happen in the Scottish Highlands, I’d love to see the places depicted in at least the first book, including Inverness, Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, the Highland Folk Museum, and Glen Coe.

All the Scottish Historical Sites | I have a keen interest in visiting the Neolithic village of Skara Brae in Orkney, which is older than Stonehenge.

Edinburgh | There is nothing I’d say no to doing in this incredible city. I’d even attempt the hike up Arthur’s Seat for the breathtaking views over the city.