The annual holiday concert in San Giovanni Lipioni ended with a performance of Wham’s ”Last Christmas” by a traveling brass band. The few young children clapping to the music were adored by the gray-haired villagers seated in the old church of the central Italian hill town.
Cesarina Falasco, 73, expressed her delight at the little movement during the concert, describing it as lovely and different. San Giovanni Lipioni, known for various historical and cultural elements, has seen a decline in population over the years, making it the town with the oldest average population in Italy.
Despite the existential angst caused by this designation, the town has embraced its creaky distinction as a lifeline. Efforts are being made to attract new residents by selling abandoned houses and leveraging media attention to gradually attract new visitors and resources in 2024.
The town is selling its abundance of quiet and offering an opportunity for immersion into an authentic small town with plenty of unused housing stock with charming features. The local mini-market selling groceries and essential services is also highlighted as a selling point.
The town’s leaders are focused on drawing young people and couples working in nearby factories by investing in a soccer field and road repair. However, the association sees a more lucrative repopulation in selling summer houses to foreigners and other out-of-towners.
The mayor, Nicola Rossi, expressed pride in being the oldest town but emphasized the need to do things not only for the old people to save the town.
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2024-01-22 03:00:32
Link from www.nytimes.com
