Italy, the birthplace of the Slow movement and the home of Slow Food, is a natural as the second destination in our new Slow series.

The gorgeous accommodations profiled here treasure the traditional and embrace the eco-friendly, ensuring some of the most exceptional lodgings and delicious food in Italy. Forty-six places, chosen for their commitment to Slow Food and sustainability, include simple farmsteads as well as luxurious villas; guestrooms fitted with freshly ironed linens; infinity pools with views over citrus and olive groves; rambling gardens fragrant with lavender and jasmine. Meals feature artisanal and organic food: pasta made by hand; home-baked bread; heirloom fruit jams; local meat and fish; produce from the kitchen gardens; and wine from local vineyards.

From the mountainous north, through Tuscany, down the coastline, and on to the south and the islands, Go Slow Italy embraces the Slow philosophy: an appreciation of history, landscape and architecture, craftsmanship and community, real food, small producers, and the enjoyment of life at its most enriching.

“Sawday is a campaigner for the environment and good food. His recommendations are like those of a good friend.”  —The Guardian

"The guide, which reads like the journal of a friend who has vetted Italy's finest offerings, describes intimate accommodations from the Veneto to Sicily, all of which embrace the sustainable-food movement...You'll bond with inkeepers and vinters--who just might divulge the secret of living la dolce vita." —Town and Country