Rediscovering proximity and slow places Moving away, even just a little
You know when people say, “I’m going back home to visit my relatives,” or when you simply spend a few days at your grandmother’s house in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere? Maybe that’s exactly what you need. Very often, we think that in order to truly disconnect, we need to fly to the Maldives or at least reach Istanbul. Yet sometimes, to decompress and let stress fade away, all it takes is leaving the city and getting away, even for a short while. This is where the unexpected happens: you may start appreciating the things that used to bore you as a child, slowness, open spaces, an empty calendar, and a schedule free of commitments (because you’re away from home and can’t meet anyone). That’s when you realize that balance is possible, even when your resources are limited. Of course, not everyone has relatives who can host them, a beach house, a mountain cabin, a lakeside retreat, or even a place that others might consider “unremarkable.” But that’s not the point. The point is that what makes the difference is not the destination itself, but the opportunity to get away, even if only for a little while.
The new luxury is space
I’ve traveled to famous destinations and still felt restless. I’ve walked through cities that people dream of visiting, only to find myself standing in line to enter museums, eating in overcrowded restaurants, and rushing from one attraction to another with the feeling that I had to make every minute count. Then, all it took was two days by the sea, in a place far from the usual tourist routes, to truly rest. Not “rest” in the sense of coming back with more photos on my phone, but in the deepest and simplest meaning of the word. Sleeping better. Listening to silence. Having no rush. Breathing. I realized that maybe it’s not just me who has changed. In recent years, we’ve been conditioned to think of vacations as a form of consumption. The farther away, more exclusive, and more desirable a destination is, the more valuable the trip seems to be. We grew up believing that the prestige of a place is directly linked to its ability to make us happy. But is that really true?
The new face of tourism
According to a 2025 Airbnb survey, one in four Italians chose forms of slow tourism, while one in two preferred rural destinations. More and more people seem to value contact with nature, slower rhythms, and authenticity over overcrowded and overhyped locations. This trend is also confirmed by Italy’s Ministry of Tourism, which recorded significant growth in visits to inland areas and green tourism destinations during the summer of 2025. While major cities and world-famous destinations continue to struggle with the effects of overtourism, many Italians are rediscovering small villages, countryside escapes, and lesser-known destinations. Naturally, money plays a role too. Traveling has become more expensive, and household purchasing power has declined. But it would be a mistake to interpret this phenomenon solely through the lens of saving money. According to data from Coldiretti and Confcooperative, during the summer of 2025, agritourism accommodations accounted for around 15% of Ferragosto bookings, marking a 20% increase compared to the previous year. Certainly, staying in the countryside or in less touristy destinations can be more affordable than visiting the most popular locations. But perhaps we are also becoming tired. Tired of overcrowded cities. Tired of beaches where every square meter must be reserved in advance. Tired of vacations planned down to the minute, which end up feeling like another job. Tired even of the need to document everything, to prove to others that we were there, that we saw that sunset, that we ate at that restaurant. For years, we associated luxury with abundance: more things, more experiences, more destinations, more people. Today, however, the opposite seems to be true, or at least, it is becoming so. Being able to read a book without checking your phone. Taking a walk without feeling the need to take pictures. Listening to the sound of cicadas. Looking at the sea without a row of umbrellas blocking the view. Having no urgent task other than reaching the end of the day with the feeling that you have lived a simple day well. In a world that constantly pushes us to move faster, slowing down has become the new privilege. It no longer matters where.
