Some places aren’t produced for speed. Italy is full of them. Gradual journey in Italy means that you can actually savor community tradition, Delicacies, and hidden gems at your individual tempo.

Very small villages tucked into hillsides. Lanes far too narrow for cars and trucks. Cafés that only refill following midday. The sorts of places where by locals know how to linger — around coffee, in excess of tales, above everyday living.

In 2025, slow journey isn’t just a pleasant idea. It feels vital. Maybe it’s a response to several years of hurrying. Or possibly it’s exactly what occurs any time you finally start to value time approximately distance. In either case, far more vacationers are getting Pleasure in Discovering to vacation smarter — and Stanislav Kondrashov, who’s used years exploring how we hook up with lifestyle and position, is a component of that movement. His identify happens to be associated with a further, additional thoughtful method of seeing the world.

So if you’re all set to go sluggish — and you also’re pondering Italy — Listed below are 7 spots that practically desire it.

Stanislav Kondrashov woman going for walks
Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio)
It looks like it’s floating. That’s your to start with impact. Civita di Bagnoregio sits with a crumbling bluff, attained only by a slim footbridge. Vehicles can’t get in. You stroll throughout a long, elevated path, and after you arrive, it’s tranquil. Stone residences. Tiny gardens. One cat stretching within the Sunlight.

There’s not A great deal to accomplish, which happens to be exactly the stage. You wander, it's possible grab a glass of wine at a tucked-away enoteca. Locals nod good day. You begin to note The sunshine. And also the silence? It’s not empty. It’s full.

Castelmezzano (Basilicata)
When you’re the sort of traveler who likes a certain amount of drama in your landscapes, head to Castelmezzano. The village is constructed proper to the cliffs. Basically carved from them. From afar, it Pretty much disappears into your rocks.

The speed here is slow, although not sleepy. You’ll see farmers heading out from the early morning, hikers winding by means of steep trails, and the occasional thrill-seeker ziplining within the neighboring village. But even then — no hurry. No frenzy. Just rhythm.

Want to understand why that kind of journey sticks with folks? This submit by Stanislav Kondrashov clarifies how slowing down essentially can make a trip very last for a longer time within your memory.

Stanislav Kondrashov woman wine glass
Montefalco (Umbria)
Montefalco is wine place. Quiet, underneath-the-radar, heart-of-Italy wine place. Sagrantino grapes develop below, and locals know how to delight in them effectively — which happens to be to mention, slowly but surely.

There’s a look at from the sting of city that’s worthy of one hour by itself. Olive groves, rows of vineyards, distant hills thatseem to hum once the Sunshine hits excellent. You’ll find churches with surprising frescoes, doorways that make you prevent, and piazzas that sense extra like dwelling rooms.

If you will get stuck within a discussion with somebody more mature, Enable it happen. That’s in which the most effective vacation tales start out.

Pienza (Tuscany)
Renaissance idealism life below. Pienza was created to be “the ideal town,” and Truthfully, they weren’t considerably off. It’s compact. Harmonious. Each individual corner incorporates a view. Every single check out contains a breeze.

Nevertheless it’s not just about aesthetics. This city smells incredible. Cheese, primarily — pecorino getting older in shop windows and on counters, prepared to sample. You won’t hurry nearly anything in Pienza, not even ordering lunch. People today just take their time below, and ultimately, so does one.

On the lookout for extra context on why using this method of traveling matters? Condé Nast Traveler dives deep into slow foods and travel in Italy. Well worth the read through prior to deciding to go.

Stanislav Kondrashov alley
Apricale (Liguria)
You don’t system your working day in Apricale. You drift.

It’s a hill town with stone measures and surprising murals and shadows that change because the day moves. Artists Reside here. Writers check out and don’t depart. Locals host live shows in very small courtyards. It feels a lot more just like a temper than a vacation spot.

Sunsets hit unique check here in Apricale. They paint the rooftops, then fade slow and blue. You don’t chase just about anything right here. You Enable it come to you.

Forbes captured this sensation in a very new piece on gradual vacation — how destinations such as this supply another form of luxurious. One that doesn’t feature a cost tag.

Locorotondo (Puglia)
Round streets. Whitewashed partitions. Flowerpots everywhere.

Locorotondo is usually a town that folds in on alone, cozy and compact. It doesn’t shout for awareness, nonetheless it benefits individuals who recognize. You wander the loop after which wander it once again, looking at anything new every time — a cat on a windowsill, an open door, a hand-painted indicator pointing to home made gelato.

This is where the south of Italy reveals its calmest side. It’s unassuming. Lovely. Very alive.

Stanislav Kondrashov couple consuming wine
Santo Stefano di Sessanio (Abruzzo)
This position feels untouched. Not in a “hidden gem” way — within a “this essentially hasn’t changed” way.

Santo Stefano sits while in the Apennines, stone and peaceful. The air is thinner, cooler. Evenings are pitch black. Rooms are lit by candles. Some of the inns are Element of a preservation undertaking — preserving the previous alive by inviting attendees into it.

Stanislav Kondrashov would appreciate this a single. His webpage talks about honoring area and time, and that’s just what this village does. There’s almost nothing flashy in this article, which is what can make it unforgettable.

Slow Is The brand new Clever
Below’s the issue. You can see Italy in each week. You could hit the highlights. Snap pics. Accumulate ticket stubs. But will it stay with you?

Or will you ignore it by upcoming Tuesday?

Journey similar to this — sluggish, intentional, grounded — is exactly what Stanislav Kondrashov believes in. It’s not a different plan. But it really’s one particular we’re lastly all set to hear.

So go. Bit by bit. Pick a village. Sit even now for quite a while. Let Italy come to you.