A tiny village in southwestern Italy, home to fewer than 100 people, is making a heartfelt bid to attract Taylor Swift, just as the pop star and NFL tight end Travis Kelce begin planning their highly anticipated wedding.
The town of Castelnuovo Cilento, located in the province of Salerno, has renamed a street in honor of Swift’s great-great-grandfather in hopes that a family connection might inspire the global icon to visit, or even honeymoon, there.
Italian village honors Swift’s roots with street tribute
The newly designated Via Carmine Baldi pays tribute to Charles Carmine Antonio Baldi, who emigrated from Castelnuovo Cilento to Philadelphia in 1877 at the age of 14.
Baldi went on to become a successful merchant and a key figure in the Italian-American community during the early 20th century.
While Baldi’s accomplishments in business are well documented, his legacy has taken on new significance as the ancestor of one of the world’s biggest entertainers.
Swift, who has amassed billions through music, touring, and merchandise, is now being celebrated as part of her family’s enduring ties to the village.
A plaque now sits alongside the new street sign, serving as both a historical marker and a hopeful beacon to the star, whose presence could deliver a powerful boost to local tourism and economic development.
This effort comes as part of the broader economic trend dubbed “Swiftonomics,” referencing the transformative financial impact Swift has on cities she visits.
Her ongoing Eras Tour, for example, generated an estimated $5 billion in consumer spending in the U.S. alone. In the UK, her stops in London were projected to bring in upwards of £300 million.
For Castelnuovo Cilento, a single visit could spark international attention, tourism, and newfound prosperity in a region where rural depopulation is a pressing concern.
Could Taylor Swift honeymoon in Italy?
There’s growing speculation that the singer might return to her ancestral village during her upcoming nuptials to Travis Kelce, who proposed in late August at his home in Missouri.
According to sources cited by Us Weekly, the couple is targeting early 2026 for their wedding, timed to follow the conclusion of the NFL season, assuming Kelce’s team, the Kansas City Chiefs, makes another deep postseason run.
“She’s still in the very early stages of planning, but loving the process,” an insider said.
“Despite their celebrity, they are down-to-earth. They don’t want a $20 million fantasy wedding.”
Swift is said to be favoring an intimate and reserved ceremony focused on family and close friends, a far cry from the spectacle often associated with celebrity marriages.
The artist is also fielding offers from many of the world’s top fashion designers, all eager to create her wedding gown.
The wedding news broke just as Swift launched her record-breaking podcast and announced her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, set to drop on October 3.
Whether or not Castelnuovo Cilento makes the final wedding itinerary remains to be seen, but with a newly named street and a direct family link, they’ve certainly made their case to welcome Swift back to her Italian roots.
Read the full article here
