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Gragnano, Grandma Angelina's fairytale: she travels 700 kilometers to celebrate her 100th birthday with 90 relatives.

From Sicily to Campania, braving the scorching heat to celebrate with 90 relatives: "My secret? Living." Among the most beautiful gifts was meeting her two-month-old great-grandson.
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Gragnano: Grandma Angelina's Tale Travels 700 Kilometers to Celebrate Her 100th Birthday with 90 Relatives 2026 09 05
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Gragnano – Not even the scorching temperatures and a nearly 700-kilometer journey by land and sea could stop her. To blow out her first hundred candles, grandmother Angelina Donnarumma decided to do something grand: leave Sicily, where she lives, and return to her hometown of Gragnano for a record-breaking family reunion.

Awaiting her in her native land was a guard of honor made up of ninety relatives, who had come from all over Italy to pay their respects.

The journey and the hug to the great-grandson

Born in 1926 and the youngest of eleven children, Angelina had flown to Vittoria, in the province of Ragusa, during the Covid crisis to live with her second-born son, Salvatore. While last year it was the family who organized a mass incursion into Sicily aboard several buses, this year the roles were reversed: it was the centenarian who set out.

Among the most touching moments of the day was meeting the family's youngest child: a two-month-old great-grandson, brought to Gragnano directly from Padua by the woman's grandchildren.

Zero sacrifices and "Un Posto al Sole": the recipe for a hundred years

When asked about the secret to achieving such a goal in perfect health, Angelina's answer is surprising in its simplicity: "Living." No drastic regimens or strict diets. Her family describes her as a glutton who doesn't deprive herself of anything: from fried foods to lasagna, to cheeses and traditional desserts.

Today, the lively granny spends her days reading, doing crochet, and watching the soap opera "Un Posto al Sole" (A Place in the Sun) every evening, a crucial part of easing her homesickness.

The city's tribute

The celebrations, which began in the morning around the tables of a local restaurant, will culminate with the official recognition of the community: the mayor of Gragnano, Nello D'Auria, will present her with a commemorative plaque on behalf of the entire town to celebrate a century of life lived to the fullest.

What to know

What to Know About Grandma Angelina and Her Centenary

Here are some highlights of grandmother Angelina Donnarumma's story and the celebrations for her 100th birthday.

  • Age: Grandma Angelina turned 100.
  • Birth place: She was born in Gragnano, but currently lives in Sicily.
  • Family: She has 90 relatives who gathered to celebrate her.
  • Secret of longevity: Angelina attributes her health to simple living and enjoying food.
  • Recognition: The mayor of Gragnano will present her with a commemorative plaque.
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