Woman flew to Italy in search of her dad's childhood home. When she reached her Airbnb — her jaw dropped

A young Argentine traveler had an extraordinary coincidence while visiting Italy — she accidentally booked an Airbnb that turned out to be her father's childhood home. According to Good News Network, Maria Florencia, known as Flor, traveled from Argentina to Castel San Lorenzo, a village in the Campania region of southern Italy, with the goal of retracing her father’s roots. Flor booked a stay at a highly rated Airbnb in Castel San Lorenzo’s historic center, hosted by Margherita and Enza, a mother-daughter pair known for their near-perfect "Superhost" rating.

She arrived carrying early family photos of her father’s time in the village. It was only when she compared those photos with the property itself that she realized the booking wasn't only close to her father’s past but was also his actual home. Her father had been born, raised, and eventually left that very house. Her family’s story is one shared by millions. Between 1850 and 1950, around 3.5 million Italians emigrated to Argentina. The earlier wave came mostly from northern Italy, while later arrivals were largely from the south. That migration shaped Argentina’s culture, leaving entire provinces where as much as 30% of the population is of Italian heritage.

According to a 2009 study by Boise State University, people who travel to ancestral homes — what they term "legacy tourists" — are often motivated by much more than sightseeing. Their research shows that the strongest drivers are the search for personal identity, a desire to stand in the places where family once lived, and the need to authenticate stories passed down through generations. In their survey of travelers, respondents consistently ranked seeing ancestral homes as one of the most meaningful aspects of reconnecting with heritage.

To add to the surprise, Margherita and Enza confirmed that their family had purchased the property years earlier from Flor’s grandparents. With their help, Flor was able to access local records and learn more about her family history before continuing her travels. She later left the hosts a glowing five-star review on Airbnb, maintaining their perfect record and making a brief mention of the unexpected connection.

While Flor’s Airbnb experience revealed a deeply personal link to her family’s past, one family found themselves facing coincidences of a different kind. On a skiing trip in Sweden, the Stevenson family booked a rural Airbnb and uncovered a painting that left them stunned. Hanging on the wall was a century-old print by artist Carl Larsson, who died in 1919. The child in the painting bore an uncanny resemblance to their 8-year-old son, Barney.

Jenny Stevenson recalled her daughter pointing out the resemblance, saying, "Mum, they’ve got a picture of Barney on the wall!" Everyone at the table, including Barney himself, agreed the likeness was uncanny. Jenny explained that the painted child even had the same intense expression Barney often pulls when asked to smile for a picture. Jenny later shared the side-by-side images on Twitter with a joking caption: "Just arrived at our secluded rural B&B to find a painting of our youngest child depicted as a small girl. There’s absolutely no terrifying precedent for this, so it’s probably fine."

More on Scoop Upworthy

Sisters revisit childhood home after 18 years—tearing up while rediscovering lost memories

Woman reunited with heartwarming childhood photo moved by what she finds on the back

Woman grieving mom's loss finally gets closure as friends rent out her childhood home for her 50th b'day