Campodimele, Italy: travel guide to the walled village of longevity in the Aurunci mountains

Campodimele is a small hilltop village in the province of Latina, in Lazio, set at around 650 metres in the Monti Aurunci Regional Park of central Italy, between the mountains and the Gulf of Gaeta. Home to only some 550 people, it is famous far beyond its size as one of the longest-living communities in the country.

For travellers searching for Campodimele, the village of longevity, the medieval walls or the Aurunci mountains, it offers a beautiful borgo, fine views and an intriguing reputation.

The village of longevity

Campodimele owes its international fame to the remarkable longevity of its inhabitants, whose unusually low cholesterol and high life expectancy have attracted the interest of scientists and the world's media. The reasons are debated, from a simple, healthy diet and lifestyle to a possible genetic factor, but the name itself, thought to derive from a Latin phrase meaning "field of honey," hints at an old country way of life.

The medieval borgo

The compact, circular old town is ringed by remarkably well-preserved walls studded with twelve semi-cylindrical towers, built between the 10th and 15th centuries. A panoramic path around the outside of the walls, known as the "Walk of Love," offers romantic views over the valley, while at the heart of the village stands the 13th-century church of San Michele Arcangelo. Its beauty has earned Campodimele a place among Italy's most beautiful villages and an Orange Flag from the Italian Touring Club.

Practical information

Campodimele lies about 20 kilometres inland from the coastal towns of Gaeta and Formia, within the Monti Aurunci park, and makes a peaceful base for walking and for exploring southern Lazio.