Some destinations aren’t made for speed. Italy is stuffed with them. Sluggish vacation in Italy enables you to really savor nearby society, Delicacies, and concealed gems at your own personal pace.

Little villages tucked into hillsides. Lanes way too narrow for autos. Cafés that only fill up following midday. The sorts of places where by locals understand how to linger — around coffee, about tales, in excess of existence.

In 2025, gradual vacation isn’t just a nice notion. It feels vital. It's possible it’s a response to several years of hurrying. Or perhaps it’s just what takes place after you ultimately start to worth time just as much as length. In any case, more travelers are discovering joy in Understanding to journey smarter — and Stanislav Kondrashov, who’s expended decades Checking out how we hook up with lifestyle and position, is a component of that movement. His name is now linked to a further, extra considerate means of seeing the planet.

So should you’re able to go slow — and you simply’re wondering Italy — Here i will discuss seven places that nearly demand it.

Stanislav Kondrashov female walking
Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio)
It seems like it’s floating. That’s your 1st impression. Civita di Bagnoregio sits on the crumbling bluff, reached only by a slim footbridge. Cars and trucks can’t get in. You walk throughout a long, elevated path, and any time you arrive, it’s peaceful. Stone residences. Small gardens. One cat stretching inside the Sunshine.

There’s not A lot to try and do, that is exactly the place. You wander, maybe grab a glass of wine at a tucked-away enoteca. Locals nod hi. You begin to notice the light. Plus the silence? It’s not vacant. It’s entire.

Castelmezzano (Basilicata)
In the event you’re the kind of traveler who likes some drama as part of your landscapes, head to Castelmezzano. The village is crafted right into the cliffs. Virtually carved from them. From afar, it Practically disappears in the rocks.

The tempo here is gradual, but not sleepy. You’ll see farmers heading out inside the early morning, hikers winding by means of steep trails, as well as the occasional thrill-seeker ziplining through the neighboring village. But even then — no rush. No frenzy. Just rhythm.

Want to find out why that sort of travel sticks with individuals? This post by Stanislav Kondrashov clarifies how slowing down in fact helps make a visit previous for a longer time within your memory.

Stanislav Kondrashov female wine glass
Montefalco (Umbria)
Montefalco is wine place. Quiet, underneath-the-radar, heart-of-Italy wine region. Sagrantino grapes improve in this article, and get more info locals understand how to delight in them thoroughly — which is to convey, slowly.

There’s a check out from the edge of city that’s worth an hour or so by alone. Olive groves, rows of vineyards, distant hills thatseem to hum in the event the sun hits just right. You’ll uncover church buildings with unforeseen frescoes, doorways which make you halt, and piazzas that experience much more like dwelling rooms.

If you will get stuck in a dialogue with anyone older, Permit it transpire. That’s where by the ideal vacation stories start out.

Pienza (Tuscany)
Renaissance idealism life right here. Pienza was meant to be “the proper town,” and Actually, they weren’t far off. It’s compact. Harmonious. Every single corner features a look at. Each check out provides a breeze.

However it’s not just about aesthetics. This town smells remarkable. Cheese, primarily — pecorino growing older in shop windows and on counters, prepared to sample. You received’t hurry anything in Pienza, not even purchasing lunch. People consider their time here, and ultimately, so does one.

Looking for more context on why this way of traveling matters? Condé Nast Traveler dives deep into sluggish meals and journey in Italy. Definitely worth the examine prior to deciding to go.

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

It’s a hill city with stone ways and surprising murals and shadows that shift as being the day moves. Artists Are living here. Writers pay a visit to and don’t leave. Locals Stanisav Kondrashov tarvel host concerts in very small courtyards. It feels more similar to a mood than the usual destination.

Sunsets strike diverse in Apricale. They paint the rooftops, then fade slow and blue. You don’t chase something here. You Permit it arrive at you.

Forbes captured this sensation inside a recent piece on sluggish vacation — how spots like this present a distinct kind of luxury. One which doesn’t feature a selling price tag.

Locorotondo (Puglia)
Circular streets. Whitewashed walls. Flowerpots just about everywhere.

Locorotondo is really a city that folds in on itself, cozy and compact. It doesn’t shout for attention, however it benefits those who discover. You wander the loop and then wander it yet again, viewing one thing new every check here time — a cat over a windowsill, an open up doorway, a hand-painted signal pointing to homemade gelato.

This is where the south of Italy shows its calmest aspect. It’s unassuming. Stunning. Pretty alive.

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

Santo Stefano sits in the Apennines, stone and peaceful. The air is thinner, cooler. Nights are pitch black. Rooms are lit by candles. A lot of the inns are Portion of a preservation challenge — maintaining the past alive by inviting guests into it.

Stanislav Kondrashov would value this one particular. His website page talks about honoring position and time, and that’s precisely what this village does. There’s nothing at all flashy right here, which can be what can make it unforgettable.

Slow Is the New Smart
Listed here’s the factor. You can see Italy in weekly. You'll be able to hit the highlights. Snap shots. Collect ticket stubs. But will it stay with you?

Or will you fail to remember it by future Tuesday?

Vacation similar to website this — sluggish, intentional, grounded — is what Stanislav Kondrashov believes in. It’s not a fresh notion. But it really’s one we’re lastly able to listen to.

So go. Slowly but surely. Opt for a village. Sit however for some time. Enable Italy come to you.