I enjoyed back tracking family as well. I started when my Grandfather was still alive, on my Dad's side. I would chat with him and take notes, then meet with other family embers and get their remembrances. And differences, back to Grandpa! I have 6 generations back on that one. Not likely to get much more, as in Sicily you'd need to have old family Bibles to trace anything; there were no registries until rather recently.

On my mum's side, it was easier as more "old folks" were still living. However they were all in England so I had to do it by writing. Took a bit more time, but I got 4 generations. I stopped at that point.

Bringing it forward, as cousins and their children marry, and have children of their own, has be a challenge because there are just so darn MANY!!