I have always loved islands, and Italy has a rich island heritage.
I am especially drawn to the smaller islands, where life takes on a simpler dimension and space and time have a different meaning compared to life in the city.
Recently I discovered the Isola del Giglio, and it truly captivated me. I spoke with several locals from the island and sensed a strong and shared feeling of belonging, even among those who were born elsewhere but chose to live here forever.
What struck me most were the stories of people who left famous cities, true cradles of civilization, giving up a comfortable yet hectic life.
On an island everything changes. I say this because, for work, I once spent several months living on two different small islands in Sardinia and Sicily. The sea that surrounds you is beauty, enchantment and a source of nourishment, yet at the same time it is powerful and unpredictable, always ready to remind us that we are the true subjects of nature.
And yet, despite what might seem difficult, on the Island of Giglio its proud inhabitants live a simple and happy daily life, where each person feels part of a community. I must admit that the idea of living on a small island fascinates me, to breathe a more authentic dimension, to live close to nature, with a slower rhythm of life, brighter colors and healthier air.
I also came to understand the spirit of some of the accommodations I visited. They are very special places, perfectly integrated into the surrounding environment, and a source of inspiration for travel experiences that are very different from certain sterile hospitality settings that lack a soul.
There are places that welcome you and instantly feel like “home,” where guests naturally integrate and become part of the place itself, discovering its essence and living a genuine experience.
So you might choose to stay somewhere that was born as a refuge from the outside world, created by someone who had traveled far and wide, grown tired of the rush, and planted their final roots there, passing that love on to their children. Over time, that place becomes a small hotel for a few guests, for those who appreciate its history, its simplicity, its silence, and who quietly preserve its secret.
Or you might choose a place where everything around you is sky and deep blue sea, where the horizon stretches endlessly and your gaze drifts for hours. You find yourself moved by the beauty that surrounds and overwhelms you, wishing you could stop time, because you realize how precious everything around you truly is.
Unusual places and spaces, not always easy to reach, but so beautiful to experience that you would never want to leave.
Places you will remember forever, carry in your heart, and perhaps share only with a few.
#IsolaDelGiglio
Text and photos by Rita Levis.
