Astypalea Island

Some hundreds of years ago my Italian ancestors were given an island that from bird's eye view is in the shape of a butterfly. My ancestors constructed the castle on the top of the hill that you see in the picture below. My feet have now touched ground that my great great great great greats... had once touched. I walked around the castle ruins that still remain and couldn't believe I had been giving such an opportunity. This island is where my last name originates. My ancestors started out as the Querini family, but later after living on this island changed their name to Querini-Stampalia (which is the western version of Astypalea). What an amazing journey!