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Natale’s obituary mentioned our family’s long connection to the church, but digging deeper didn’t yield much until we looked into Campi Albareto. Its size and history, especially its old cemetery, hint at a lineage stretching back centuries. It seems our ancestors might have been a group of skilled craftsmen and their families, possibly known as the Maestri Comacine. The Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, adds weight to this theory, linking the Campi to the Maestri Comacine.

We learned that in Italy, graves are leased for 75 years, and families can decide whether to renew. When leases expire, bones are moved to a common grave to conserve space. That’s why I couldn’t find some expected names, like Lazzardo Maestri. It’s also said that inheritance rights are preserved in Italy, which might explain why the Maestri in the village were cautious about meeting us.

Even the priest wasn’t available and Maria didn’t find any Maestri cousins, many graves and streets in Borgo Val di Taro carry the Maestri name. These artisans, known as the Maestri Comacini, were more than just builders—they were architects, painters, and engineers who made a lasting impact on history. Despite their significant role since the Middle Ages, their contributions were often overlooked by historians.