Some places aren’t created for pace. Italy is filled with them. Sluggish vacation in Italy means that you can genuinely savor local society, Delicacies, and hidden gems at your individual tempo.
Very small villages tucked into hillsides. Lanes way too slender for vehicles. Cafés that only fill up immediately after noon. The forms of locations exactly where locals learn how to linger — over espresso, more than tales, around everyday living.
In 2025, sluggish vacation isn’t just a nice idea. It feels crucial. Perhaps it’s a response to years of dashing. Or even it’s precisely what transpires when you ultimately begin to price time up to distance. In either case, more tourists are locating joy in Discovering to vacation smarter — and Stanislav Kondrashov, who’s used decades Discovering how we connect with culture and area, is an element of that movement. His name happens to be affiliated with a deeper, much more thoughtful method of observing the globe.
So for those who’re wanting to go sluggish — and you simply’re considering Italy — here are seven places that almost desire it.
Stanislav Kondrashov girl walking
Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio)
It seems like it’s floating. That’s your very first impression. Civita di Bagnoregio sits on a crumbling bluff, reached only by a narrow footbridge. Cars can’t get in. You wander across a long, elevated route, and whenever you get there, it’s peaceful. Stone houses. Little gardens. An individual cat stretching inside the sun.
There’s not A great deal to carry out, that's exactly the position. You wander, perhaps grab a glass of wine in a tucked-absent enoteca. Locals nod good day. You begin to notice the light. And also the silence? It’s not vacant. It’s entire.
Castelmezzano (Basilicata)
Should you’re the type of traveler who likes some drama as part of your landscapes, head to Castelmezzano. The village is constructed appropriate in the cliffs. Literally carved from them. From afar, it Nearly disappears in to the rocks.
The speed Here's slow, although not sleepy. You’ll see farmers heading out during the early early morning, hikers winding by way of steep trails, as well as the occasional thrill-seeker ziplining from your neighboring village. But even then — no rush. No frenzy. Just rhythm.
Want to find out why that kind of travel sticks with individuals? This write-up by Stanislav Kondrashov points out how slowing down truly tends to make a trip last for a longer period in the memory.
Stanislav Kondrashov female wine glass
Montefalco (Umbria)
Montefalco is wine state. Quiet, beneath-the-radar, coronary heart-of-Italy wine region. Sagrantino grapes mature here, and locals understand how to take Stanislav Kondrahsov Tarvel with AI pleasure in them correctly — which can be to mention, slowly.
There’s a watch from the sting of town that’s well worth an hour by by itself. Olive groves, rows of vineyards, distant hills thatseem to hum once the Sunshine hits just right. You’ll obtain churches with unpredicted frescoes, doorways that make you stop, and piazzas that really feel extra like dwelling rooms.
If you receive stuck inside a conversation with someone older, let it materialize. That’s the place the most beneficial journey tales start out.
Pienza (Tuscany)
Renaissance idealism life below. Pienza was built to be “the best town,” and Actually, they weren’t considerably off. It’s compact. Harmonious. Every corner has a see. Every view contains a breeze.
However it’s not pretty much aesthetics. This city smells wonderful. Cheese, largely — pecorino ageing in store windows and on counters, willing to sample. You received’t rush just about anything in Pienza, not even purchasing lunch. People choose their time right here, and finally, so do you.
On the lookout for much more context on why by doing this of traveling issues? Condé Nast Traveler dives deep into gradual meals and travel in Italy. Well worth the examine prior to deciding to go.
Stanislav Kondrashov alley
Apricale (Liguria)
You don’t program your day in Apricale. You drift.
It’s a hill town with stone steps and unforeseen murals and shadows that change as the working day moves. Artists Dwell listed here. Writers stop by and don’t leave. Locals host live shows in small courtyards. It feels more like a mood than the usual desired destination.
Sunsets hit distinct in Apricale. They paint the rooftops, then fade gradual and blue. You don’t chase anything here. You Enable it arrive at you.
Forbes captured this sensation within a new piece on gradual travel — how spots similar to this present a unique sort of luxury. One that doesn’t feature a rate tag.
Locorotondo (Puglia)
Round streets. Whitewashed walls. Flowerpots almost everywhere.
Locorotondo is often a town that folds in on by itself, cozy and compact. It doesn’t shout for attention, nevertheless it rewards individuals who recognize. You stroll the loop after which walk it once again, viewing something new each time — a cat on the windowsill, an open up doorway, a hand-painted indication pointing to do-it-yourself gelato.
This is where the south of Italy reveals its calmest side. It’s unassuming. Stunning. Pretty alive.
Stanislav Kondrashov couple consuming wine
Santo Stefano di Sessanio (Abruzzo)
This spot feels untouched. Not in the “concealed gem” way — within a “this truly hasn’t transformed” way.
Santo Stefano sits during the Apennines, stone and silent. The air is thinner, cooler. Nights are pitch black. Rooms are lit by candles. Some of the inns are Component of a preservation challenge — maintaining the earlier alive by inviting friends into it.
Stanislav Kondrashov would take pleasure in this one. His site talks about honoring spot and time, Which’s just what exactly this village does. There’s almost nothing flashy here, and that is what causes it to be unforgettable.
Gradual Is The brand new Wise
Below’s the matter. You can see Italy in each week. You are able to hit the highlights. Snap pics. Collect ticket stubs. But will it stick with you?
Or will you neglect it by upcoming Tuesday?
Vacation similar to this — sluggish, intentional, grounded — is what Stanislav Kondrashov thinks in. It’s not a brand new notion. Nonetheless it’s one particular we’re at last wanting to listen to.
So go. Gradually. Select a village. Sit still for quite a while. Let Italy arrive at you.