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Grassano, Italy—New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had an emotional day Thursday as he visited the village where his grandmother lived before she left for the U.S. more than a century ago.

After a day in Sant’Agata de’ Goti, where his grandfather Giovanni was born, Mr. de Blasio headed to Grassano, a small village of around 5,000 people on the hills in the Basilicata region.

Locals celebrated the de Blasio family’s arrival with a marching band and American flags.

“Bill is a son of this land,” said Mayor Francesco Sanseverino in a speech in the main square. “I think that when you come back again, we will see you as president of the United States,” he said.

People began filling the square early in the morning, even though the de Blasios were scheduled to arrive in the early afternoon. Children were waving American flags and cheered “zio Billy” or uncle Billy.

Mr. de Blasio visited Grassano once before, in 1982, but stayed only a couple of hours. On Thursday, he found a very different welcome party waiting for him.

“This is an historical day, and we will never forget this,” said Maria Altomonte, who waited hours to see the family.

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio visits Grassano, the town where his grandmother was born. See more photos of the de Blasio family’s trip to Italy in our slideshow.
Zuma Press

Mr. de Blasio was greeted by emotional speeches by Mr. Sanseverino and the president of the Basilicata region, Marcello Pittella, who reminded of the hundreds of Italians who left Italy to look for a better life abroad.

Mr. de Blasio said he had never met his grandmother, Anna Briganti, but heard she was a strong and bright woman, like his mother Maria. “That’s why I chose a very strong woman, Chirlane, who created another very strong woman, Chiara,” the mayor said in Italian.

He then thanked people for all their support during his mayoral campaign and for the photos and message they sent him celebrating his victory.

After the ceremony, the mayor went to visit his ancestors’ house, sold by his grandmother’s family decades ago. Mr. de Blasio took pictures of the house and went to the village city hall where he was made an honorary citizen of Grassano.

“He’s handsome,” said Laura Odrionte, a 75-year-old woman who has lived in Grassano her entire life.