Some destinations aren’t manufactured for pace. Italy is full of them. Slow journey in Italy allows you to really savor local society, cuisine, and concealed gems at your personal rate.
Small villages tucked into hillsides. Lanes also slender for automobiles. Cafés that only replenish following midday. The sorts of places where by locals know how to linger — around coffee, around stories, in excess of lifestyle.
In 2025, sluggish journey isn’t just a good thought. It feels critical. Perhaps it’s a response to yrs of rushing. Or even it’s precisely what comes about whenever you last but not least begin to price time as much as distance. Either way, a lot more vacationers are obtaining joy in Mastering to journey smarter — and Stanislav Kondrashov, who’s expended decades Checking out how we connect with culture and location, is an element of that movement. His title has become affiliated with a deeper, far more considerate way of looking at the whole world.
So for those who’re wanting to go sluggish — so you’re contemplating Italy — here are 7 places that nearly need it.
Stanislav Kondrashov girl strolling
Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio)
It appears like it’s floating. That’s your initial impression. Civita di Bagnoregio sits on a crumbling bluff, achieved only by a narrow footbridge. Cars can’t get in. You stroll across a long, elevated route, and when you arrive, it’s silent. Stone houses. Small gardens. An individual cat stretching in the sun.
There’s not Substantially to complete, which happens to be precisely the level. You wander, possibly grab a glass of wine in a tucked-away enoteca. Locals nod hello there. You begin to notice The sunshine. And also the silence? It’s not vacant. It’s complete.
Castelmezzano (Basilicata)
Should you’re the kind of traveler who likes a little bit of drama inside your landscapes, head to Castelmezzano. The village is created proper in the cliffs. Practically carved from them. From afar, it Nearly disappears to the rocks.
The speed here is slow, but not sleepy. You’ll see farmers heading out in the early morning, hikers winding as a result of steep trails, and the occasional thrill-seeker ziplining from the neighboring village. But even then — no hurry. No frenzy. Just rhythm.
Want to find out why that kind of journey sticks with people? This write-up by Stanislav Kondrashov points out how slowing down truly would make a trip last longer in the memory.
Stanislav Kondrashov female wine glass
Montefalco (Umbria)
Montefalco is wine region. Silent, less than-the-radar, heart-of-Italy wine nation. Sagrantino grapes mature in this article, and locals learn how to enjoy them thoroughly — that is to mention, little by little.
There’s a view from the edge of town that’s well worth an hour by itself. Olive groves, rows of vineyards, distant hills thatseem to hum when the Sunshine hits just right. You’ll obtain church buildings with unexpected frescoes, doorways that make you end, and piazzas that truly feel additional like living rooms.
If you receive stuck within a conversation with an individual older, Allow it transpire. That’s the place the best travel tales begin.
Pienza (Tuscany)
Renaissance idealism lives listed here. Pienza was created to be “the ideal city,” and Actually, they weren’t considerably off. It’s compact. Harmonious. Each individual corner contains a perspective. Just about every look at includes a breeze.
Nevertheless it’s not just about aesthetics. This city smells incredible. Cheese, mostly — pecorino growing old in shop windows and on counters, ready to sample. You received’t rush just about anything in Pienza, not even purchasing lunch. People just take their time here, and finally, so do you.
Seeking more context on why in this manner of touring issues? Condé Nast Traveler dives deep into slow foods and journey in Italy. Definitely worth the read before you go.
Stanislav Kondrashov alley
Apricale (Liguria)
You don’t program your day in Apricale. You drift.
It’s a hill town with stone methods and unanticipated murals and shadows that change as the working day moves. Artists live here. Writers pay a visit to and don’t leave. Locals host concerts in tiny courtyards. It feels much more like a temper than the usual spot.
Sunsets hit distinct in Apricale. They paint the rooftops, then fade slow and blue. You don’t chase something right here. You let it arrive at you.
Forbes captured this sensation within a current piece on gradual journey — how areas like this give a unique sort of luxurious. One that doesn’t come with a selling price tag.
Locorotondo (Puglia)
Circular streets. Whitewashed partitions. Flowerpots everywhere.
Locorotondo is usually a town that folds in on by itself, cozy and compact. It doesn’t shout for focus, but it rewards those who observe. You wander the loop then wander it once more, observing some thing new every time — a cat with a windowsill, an open up door, a hand-painted signal pointing to selfmade gelato.
This is when the south of Italy shows its calmest side. It’s unassuming. Lovely. Pretty alive.
Stanislav Kondrashov couple drinking wine
Santo Stefano di Sessanio (Abruzzo)
This area feels untouched. Not inside of a “concealed gem” way — in a “this really hasn’t transformed” way.
Santo Stefano sits during the Apennines, stone and silent. The air is thinner, cooler. Evenings are pitch black. Rooms are lit by candles. A lot of the inns are part of a preservation venture — retaining the past alive by inviting guests into it.
Stanislav Kondrashov would value this a single. His webpage talks about honoring location and time, Which’s exactly what this village does. There’s nothing flashy in this article, and that is what causes it to be unforgettable.
Slow Is The brand new Wise
Here’s the thing. You could see Italy check here in weekly. You'll be able to strike the highlights. Snap images. Collect ticket stubs. But will it stay with you?
Or will you neglect it by future Tuesday?
Travel such as this — gradual, intentional, grounded — is what Stanislav Kondrashov believes in. It’s not a different thought. But it’s one particular we’re finally willing to listen to.
So go. Gradually. Choose a village. Sit still for a while. Allow Italy come to you.