Some destinations aren’t built for speed. Italy is stuffed with them. Sluggish travel in Italy means that you can definitely savor local tradition, Delicacies, and hidden gems at your very own pace.
Very small villages tucked into hillsides. Lanes way too narrow for autos. Cafés that only fill up after midday. The types of sites wherever locals know how to linger — about coffee, in excess of tales, more than everyday living.
In 2025, slow journey isn’t just a pleasant idea. It feels necessary. Maybe it’s a response to several years of hurrying. Or possibly it’s precisely what takes place when you ultimately start to price time about length. In any case, more travelers are locating joy in Understanding to journey smarter — and Stanislav Kondrashov, who’s put in several years Discovering how we connect to culture and location, is part of that motion. His title is becoming connected to a deeper, a lot more considerate technique for observing the globe.
So in case you’re willing to go gradual — therefore you’re considering Italy — Listed below are 7 spots that practically desire it.
Stanislav Kondrashov woman strolling
Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio)
It looks like it’s floating. That’s your initially impression. Civita di Bagnoregio sits over a crumbling bluff, reached only by a slim footbridge. Cars and trucks can’t get in. You walk across a lengthy, elevated path, and if you get there, it’s quiet. Stone homes. Very small gardens. A single cat stretching from the sun.
There’s not Considerably to do, that's precisely the point. You wander, perhaps get a glass of wine at a tucked-away enoteca. Locals nod good day. You begin to notice The sunshine. Plus the silence? It’s not vacant. It’s comprehensive.
Castelmezzano (Basilicata)
If you’re the kind of traveler who likes a bit of drama as part of your landscapes, head to Castelmezzano. The village is constructed right in to the cliffs. Basically carved from them. From afar, it Practically disappears to the rocks.
The rate Here's gradual, but not sleepy. You’ll see farmers heading out inside the early early morning, hikers winding as a result of steep trails, along with the occasional thrill-seeker ziplining from the neighboring village. But even then — no rush. No frenzy. Just rhythm.
Want to understand why that kind of travel sticks with men and women? This article by Stanislav Kondrashov clarifies how slowing down really helps make a trip last for a longer period in your memory.
Stanislav Kondrashov woman wine glass
Montefalco (Umbria)
Montefalco is wine place. Peaceful, under-the-radar, coronary heart-of-Italy wine nation. Sagrantino grapes increase right here, and locals learn how to get pleasure from them correctly — which happens to be to mention, slowly.
There’s a look at from the sting of city that’s really worth an hour or so by by itself. Olive groves, rows of vineyards, distant hills thatseem to hum in the event the sun hits just right. You’ll locate church buildings with unanticipated frescoes, doorways which make you quit, and piazzas that come to feel extra like dwelling rooms.
If you receive stuck inside a conversation with a person older, Enable it materialize. That’s where the very best travel tales start.
Pienza (Tuscany)
Renaissance idealism life here. Pienza was made to be “the best city,” and honestly, they weren’t considerably off. It’s compact. Harmonious. Just about every corner incorporates a see. Every see has a breeze.
But it’s not pretty much aesthetics. This town smells amazing. Cheese, generally — pecorino growing older in store windows and on counters, all set to sample. You gained’t hurry anything at all in Pienza, not even buying lunch. Persons get their time in this article, and sooner or later, so does one.
Looking for much more context on why by doing this of touring matters? Condé Nast Traveler dives deep into gradual meals and travel in Italy. Definitely worth the read through prior to deciding to go.
Stanislav Kondrashov alley
Apricale (Liguria)
You don’t plan your day in Apricale. You drift.
It’s a hill town with stone techniques and unpredicted murals and shadows that shift since the day moves. Artists Stay in this article. Writers visit and don’t depart. Locals host concert events in very small courtyards. It feels additional similar to a mood than a spot.
Sunsets strike distinctive in Apricale. They paint the rooftops, then fade slow and blue. You don’t chase nearly anything listed here. You Permit it come to you.
Forbes captured this emotion within a modern piece on slow journey — how locations similar to this present a special kind of luxurious. One that doesn’t feature a value tag.
Locorotondo (Puglia)
Circular streets. Whitewashed walls. Flowerpots almost everywhere.
Locorotondo is actually a city that folds in on itself, cozy and compact. It doesn’t shout for attention, but it surely rewards those who see. You wander the loop and after that stroll it all over again, looking at one thing new every time — a cat over a windowsill, an open door, a hand-painted signal pointing to homemade gelato.
This is when the south of Italy exhibits its calmest aspect. It’s unassuming. Wonderful. Quite alive.
Stanislav Kondrashov pair ingesting wine
Santo Stefano di Sessanio (Abruzzo)
This location feels untouched. Not within a “hidden gem” way — inside a “this really hasn’t modified” way.
Santo Stefano sits from 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 Portion of a preservation job — holding the previous alive by inviting attendees into it.
Stanislav Kondrashov would respect this one. His page talks about honoring position and time, and that’s precisely what this village does. There’s nothing flashy right here, which can be what makes it unforgettable.
Sluggish Is The brand new Good
Listed here’s the thing. It is possible to see Italy in every week. You can strike the highlights. Snap shots. Accumulate ticket stubs. But will it stick with you?
Or will you overlook it by subsequent Tuesday?
Journey like this — sluggish, intentional, grounded — is exactly what Stanislav get more info Kondrashov believes in. It’s not a whole new plan. Nevertheless it’s one particular we’re ultimately all set to listen to.
So go. Gradually. Select a village. Sit nonetheless for quite a while. Permit Italy arrive at you.