Road trip looking for Cuda family information

It was a long day but well worth it in Marie’s search Sunday for information on her Aunt Aida.

The town of Berbenno with the majestic mountains.

Since this was a special day for Marie she wrote this blog.

Sunday, April 27, 2025, was a beautiful day. We drove three and-a-half hours to a small town in the very northern part of Italy. We had to drive through many windy roads and tunnels. Carl did a great job navigating the roads, I on the other hand had my foot on the passenger side break.

The town was Berbenno Di Valtellina, Sondrio Province. It was a beautiful hill top town, very close to Switzerland’s boarder.

We could actually see the snow peaks of the Alps. The town has only about 5,000 residents.

The inside of Monica Bar was neat and tidy.

We stopped to eat at Monica Bar Galateria Stuzzicheria where we met lovely Anna who made us some of the freshest ham sandwiches. She spoke a little English so we talked to her about my Cuda side of the family.

My Aunt Aida was born in this small town. Anna asked some of the old timers about my family, but no one had remembered the name. Then three carabinieri (policemen) came into the bar and they were trying to help. No luck, so Carl and I walked through the cemetery having no luck there as well.

Patty wanted a photo with the carabinieri since she was on the Public Safety Commission in Melvindale, Michigan. She stuck around to talk shop with some of the carabinieri and drink some vino.

We just enjoyed a walk around the town and left Patty on the police sign because she was on the police committee in Melvindale, Michigan.

The main alter of Santa Maria in Berbenno. What a wonderful surprise.

There was one church (Santa Maria) that didn’t look like much from the outside but oh boy, what a spectacular interior.

Since George Clooney doesn’t live on Lake Como she didn’t want to stay.

After leaving Berbenno, we drove to Lake Como, which was on Patty’s original itinerary until she found out George Clooney didn’t live there anymore

We went there anyways since it wasn’t too far from Berbenno.

The main alter at the Cathedral in Como.

I thought I was going to miss Sunday Mass because we left so early for the long drive, but when we went to visit the Cathedral in Como, a Mass had just started. To our surprise a special Mass was being held, with a Cardinal as the celebrant. The service was beautiful, and the choir was angelic.

We left Como and traveled the three-and-a-half hours home, arriving back at our hotel around 10:15 p..m.

Pooped out we decided to wait until today to do this blog.