In a small village in Cilento (Campania), a street was recently named in honor of Taylor Swift’s great-great-grandfather – Charles Carmine Antonio Baldi. The dedication ceremony is due to take place on Friday the 12th in Castelnuovo – where residents will welcome a link to the famous pop star that’s now part of their everyday landscape.
Charles Baldi is the ancestor whose family tree reaches forward to Swift – three of his descendants include the singer herself. As part of this tribute, the village council voted to name one of its roads after him – turning a modest path into a symbol of heritage and connection. The move reflects both pride in roots and the inspiring idea that family stories carry on beyond time and place.
During the dedication, officials will unveil a sign bearing Baldi’s name – complete with the new address designation. The mayor of Castelnuovo emphasized how remarkable it is that someone who lived generations ago now has their name etched in the map of a place they once walked. The ceremony will gather locals, officials, and likely fans who see in this gesture more than just a name – a bridge between past and present.
This isn’t just about celebrity – it’s about identity and belonging. The locals express a sense of recognition – people who trace their ancestry here or have ties to emigrant families say the naming brings affirmation. For many, it’s also a reminder of the immigrant story – how children and grandchildren of Italians spread around the world, yet retain links to the villages their forebears left behind.
Taylor Swift, though not expected in person, will become an honorary citizen of the village – a symbolic gesture that strengthens the bond between her and this slice of Italian history. For the villagers, it’s a moment of pride – a way to celebrate their past while engaging with something global, something that travels beyond the borders.
The road naming is modest in scale – just a short street in a quiet town – yet powerful in sentiment. It marks how family, history, and memory survive in place names and in local stories. It reminds everyone that even the most remote borders on maps can carry resonance when people remember where they came from.
As twilight settles over the hills that evening, Castelnuovo will light up with small celebrations – conversations about lineage, photos in front of the street sign, laughter and maybe even songs. In that way, the legacy of Charles Baldi will live on – not just in genealogies, but in every footstep along the new “Baldi Road” – a pathway linking past, present, and future.
