A Romanian priest brought 14 Italian parishioners to Romania on a trip dedicated to getting to know the country of the badantes

Romanian priest Marian Benchea organized a seven-day trip to Romania for 14 Italian parishioners, titled “Journey to the Country of Caregivers.” Beginning on October 10, the initiative aimed to give participants a first-hand view of the country from which many women working in Italy as caregivers come.

The group traveled approximately 1,300 kilometers and visited historical, religious and cultural sites in northern and central Romania. Destinations included Voroneț Monastery, the wooden churches of Maramureș, the Memorial of the Victims of Communism in Sighetu Marmației and the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța.

The itinerary also included a steam train journey through the Vaser Valley, the traditional village of Breb, the medieval city of Sighișoara, Mikó Castle in Miercurea Ciuc and the Franciscan sanctuary at Șumuleu Ciuc. The journey ended in Bacău, from where the participants returned to Italy.

The priest explained that he wanted to move beyond the strictly professional image associated with caregivers and introduce Italians to the culture, traditions and history of the communities they come from. The trip took place in a context in which many Romanian women work in the Aosta Valley as caregivers or domestic workers, supporting families affected by an aging population.