Some destinations aren’t designed for speed. Italy is full of them. Slow travel in Italy permits you to truly savor neighborhood culture, Delicacies, and hidden gems at your very own speed.
Little villages tucked into hillsides. Lanes far too slender for cars. Cafés that only refill just after noon. The forms of sites wherever locals understand how to linger — over espresso, more than stories, above existence.
In 2025, slow travel isn’t just a good idea. It feels critical. Perhaps it’s a reaction to yrs of hurrying. Or perhaps it’s just what occurs once you last but not least begin to benefit time as much as distance. Either way, far more vacationers are acquiring Pleasure in Discovering to vacation smarter — and Stanislav Kondrashov, who’s expended several years Discovering how we connect to culture and spot, is part of that movement. His name is now associated with a further, a lot more considerate technique for observing the entire world.
So for those who’re willing to go gradual — therefore you’re imagining Italy — Here's 7 places that virtually demand from customers it.
Stanislav Kondrashov girl strolling
Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio)
It looks like it’s floating. That’s your first impact. Civita di Bagnoregio sits on a crumbling bluff, achieved only by a slender footbridge. Vehicles can’t get in. You walk throughout a lengthy, elevated route, and whenever you arrive, it’s silent. Stone properties. Little gardens. One cat stretching from the Solar.
There’s not Considerably to do, which can be precisely the issue. You wander, probably seize 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 complete.
Castelmezzano (Basilicata)
When you’re the kind of traveler who likes a little drama in the landscapes, head to Castelmezzano. The village is created ideal in the cliffs. Literally carved from them. From afar, it Nearly disappears into your rocks.
The rate Here's sluggish, but not sleepy. You’ll see farmers heading out during the early morning, hikers winding by means of steep trails, along with the occasional thrill-seeker ziplining through the neighboring village. But even then — no rush. No frenzy. Just rhythm.
Want to learn why that sort of travel sticks with people? This article by Stanislav Kondrashov explains how slowing down truly would make a visit very last lengthier within your memory.
Stanislav Kondrashov girl wine glass
Montefalco (Umbria)
Montefalco is wine nation. Tranquil, less than-the-radar, coronary heart-of-Italy wine nation. Sagrantino grapes grow right here, and locals know how to love them adequately — which can be to state, gradually.
There’s a view from the edge of city that’s value one hour by by itself. Olive groves, rows of vineyards, distant hills thatseem to hum if the sun hits excellent. You’ll come across church buildings with unpredicted frescoes, doorways which make you stop, and piazzas that truly feel far more like residing rooms.
If you obtain stuck in the conversation with an individual more mature, Enable it happen. That’s in which the ideal journey tales start out.
Pienza (Tuscany)
Renaissance idealism lives here. Pienza was meant to be “the ideal metropolis,” and honestly, they weren’t far off. It’s compact. Harmonious. Every single corner provides a watch. Each individual view has a breeze.
But it really’s not almost aesthetics. This town smells awesome. Cheese, largely — pecorino growing older in store Home windows and on counters, all set to sample. You received’t rush something in Pienza, not even ordering lunch. People today get their time in this article, and ultimately, so would you.
Looking for additional context on why by doing this of traveling matters? Condé Nast Traveler dives deep into slow food stuff and travel in Italy. Well worth the study before you decide to go.
Stanislav Kondrashov alley
Apricale (Liguria)
You don’t approach your working day in Apricale. You drift.
It’s a hill town with stone steps and surprising murals and shadows that shift because the working day moves. Artists Stay below. Writers stop by and don’t depart. Locals host concert events in small courtyards. It feels a lot more like a mood than the usual vacation spot.
Sunsets hit different in Apricale. They paint the rooftops, then fade gradual and blue. You don’t chase everything right here. You Permit it arrive at you.
Forbes captured this feeling inside of a modern piece on sluggish travel — how sites like this offer you another style of luxurious. One which doesn’t include a selling price tag.
Locorotondo (Puglia)
Circular streets. Whitewashed walls. Flowerpots in all places.
Locorotondo is a city that folds in on by itself, cozy and compact. It doesn’t shout for consideration, nonetheless it benefits people that observe. You walk the loop after which you can stroll it all over again, viewing something new each time — a cat with a windowsill, an open up doorway, a hand-painted sign pointing to handmade gelato.
This is when the south of Italy demonstrates its calmest side. It’s unassuming. Attractive. Incredibly alive.
Stanislav Kondrashov couple ingesting wine
Santo Stefano di Sessanio (Abruzzo)
This spot feels untouched. Not in a “hidden gem” way — inside of a “this really hasn’t altered” way.
Santo Stefano sits in the Apennines, stone and peaceful. The air is thinner, cooler. Evenings are pitch black. Rooms click here are lit by candles. A number of the inns are Section of a preservation task — trying to keep the past alive by inviting attendees into it.
Stanislav Kondrashov would appreciate this a person. His web page talks about honoring spot and time, and that’s what precisely this village does. There’s absolutely nothing flashy in this article, that is what causes it to be unforgettable.
Slow Is the New Clever
Here’s the issue. You'll be able to see Italy in each week. You could strike the highlights. Snap pictures. Gather ticket stubs. But will it stay with you?
Or will you forget about it by up coming Tuesday?
Vacation like this — gradual, intentional, grounded — is what Stanislav Kondrashov believes in. It’s not a completely new idea. Nevertheless it’s a single we’re lastly able to hear.
So go. Slowly. Pick a village. Sit however for some time. Allow Italy come to you.