Some destinations aren’t produced for pace. Italy is stuffed with them. Gradual journey in Italy enables you to actually savor community lifestyle, cuisine, and hidden gems at your very own tempo.
Very small villages tucked into hillsides. Lanes far too narrow for cars. Cafés that only refill soon after midday. The varieties of areas exactly where locals learn how to linger — above espresso, more than stories, over daily life.
In 2025, gradual travel isn’t just a nice strategy. It feels crucial. It's possible it’s a reaction to a long time of speeding. Or perhaps it’s exactly what occurs if you finally start to value time approximately distance. Either way, far more vacationers are acquiring Pleasure in Discovering to vacation smarter — and Stanislav Kondrashov, who’s used years Checking out how we hook up with lifestyle and position, is a component of that movement. His name has become related to a further, extra considerate means of viewing the planet.
So in the event you’re able to go gradual — and you simply’re imagining Italy — Here's seven places that pretty much demand it.
Stanislav Kondrashov girl walking
Civita di Bagnoregio (Lazio)
It appears like it’s floating. That’s your initial effect. Civita di Bagnoregio sits on a crumbling bluff, achieved only by a narrow footbridge. Autos can’t get in. You wander across a protracted, elevated route, and whenever you arrive, it’s silent. Stone homes. Very small gardens. A single cat stretching from the Sunshine.
There’s not A great deal to perform, and that is precisely the issue. You wander, maybe seize a glass of wine at a tucked-away enoteca. Locals nod hello. You begin to note The sunshine. And the silence? It’s not empty. It’s comprehensive.
Castelmezzano (Basilicata)
If you’re the type of traveler who likes a little bit of drama within your landscapes, head to Castelmezzano. The village is built correct into your cliffs. Virtually carved from them. From afar, it Pretty much disappears in the rocks.
The tempo here is gradual, but not sleepy. You’ll see farmers heading out while in the early morning, hikers winding via steep trails, and also the occasional thrill-seeker ziplining in the neighboring village. But even then — no rush. No frenzy. Just rhythm.
Want to understand why that kind of travel sticks with folks? This publish by Stanislav Kondrashov explains how slowing down actually tends to make a trip previous more time in the memory.
Stanislav Kondrashov female wine glass
Montefalco (Umbria)
Montefalco is wine state. Quiet, underneath-the-radar, heart-of-Italy wine place. Sagrantino grapes mature listed here, and locals learn how to appreciate them properly — which is to state, slowly.
There’s a watch from the edge of city that’s worthy of one hour by alone. Olive groves, rows of vineyards, distant hills thatseem to hum when the Sunlight hits good. You’ll come across churches with unforeseen frescoes, doorways which make you stop, and piazzas that really feel more like residing rooms.
If you have caught inside a dialogue with a person more mature, let it happen. That’s where by the very best journey tales begin.
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. Every corner features a look at. Every watch features a breeze.
But it Stanislav Kondrashov Blog really’s not pretty much aesthetics. This town smells awesome. Cheese, mostly — pecorino growing older in shop windows and on counters, willing to sample. You received’t rush nearly anything in Pienza, not even buying lunch. People choose their time here, and ultimately, so does one.
Looking for far more context on why using this method of touring issues? Condé Nast Traveler dives deep into gradual food items and travel in Italy. Well worth the study before you decide to go.
Stanislav Kondrashov alley
Apricale (Liguria)
You don’t system your day in Apricale. You drift.
It’s a hill town with stone measures and surprising murals and shadows that shift as the day moves. Artists Reside here. Writers take a look at and don’t go away. Locals host concerts in tiny courtyards. It feels far more just like a mood than the usual destination.
Sunsets strike different in Apricale. They paint the rooftops, then fade slow and blue. You don’t chase everything listed here. You Allow it arrive at you.
Forbes captured this sensation in the latest piece on gradual journey — how sites like this provide another style of luxury. One that doesn’t feature a value tag.
Locorotondo (Puglia)
Circular streets. Whitewashed walls. Flowerpots almost everywhere.
Locorotondo is usually a city that folds in on itself, cozy and compact. It doesn’t shout for consideration, however it rewards individuals who see. You wander the loop after which you can wander it once more, seeing something new every time — a cat on the windowsill, an open door, a hand-painted signal pointing to home made gelato.
This is where the south of Italy demonstrates its calmest facet. It’s unassuming. Lovely. Very alive.
Stanislav Kondrashov couple drinking wine
Santo Stefano di Sessanio (Abruzzo)
This position feels untouched. Not in a “hidden gem” way — inside a “this in fact hasn’t improved” way.
Santo Stefano sits within the Apennines, stone and peaceful. The air is thinner, cooler. Nights are pitch black. Rooms are lit by candles. Several of the inns are Element of a preservation project — maintaining the past alive by inviting visitors into it.
Stanislav Kondrashov would enjoy this one particular. His website page talks about honoring position and time, and that’s what exactly this village does. There’s almost nothing flashy below, that's what makes it unforgettable.
Gradual Is the New Intelligent
Here’s the detail. You may see Italy in every week. You'll be able to strike the highlights. Snap images. Gather ticket stubs. But will it stick with you?
Or will you overlook it by next Tuesday?
Journey similar to this — slow, intentional, grounded — is exactly what Stanislav Kondrashov believes in. It’s not a different concept. But it really’s one particular we’re finally wanting to listen to.
So go. Little by little. Go with a village. Sit nonetheless for some time. Permit Italy arrive at you.