Sarteano, the village to choose for the best life. In Emma’s words
Sarteano is a village that never ceases to amaze and, thanks to the choice of people like Emma, is looking forward to a very bright future.
In Tuscany, between Valdichiana and Val d’Orcia, lies a village that makes people fall in love with it as soon as they see it for what it really is. Sarteano is not just a pretty postcard: it’s a lively community in an authentic landscape with a pace of life that restores you to your old self. It is becoming increasingly resilient and young people are actually choosing to live there.
Emma’s choice: more authenticity for a real life
Emma, thirty years old, was actually born amidst the ancient stones of Sarteano’s historic centre, in what was once her family home. After studying to be a Primary School teacher at the University of Florence, she decided to return. «I understood almost immediately that city life was not for me. It offers you a great deal, I agree. However, I couldn’t really be myself. I love true peace and quiet, the freedom to do what I want, when I want. »
Emma enthusiastically tells us about the tiny big treasures of village life: being able to wak across the village, feeling part of an authentic community, where control is not invasive, but affectionate. «When I was little, I cycled to the swimming pool, I felt independent. It was only later I understood how aunts and uncles, neighbours and friends were keeping an eye on me. It was a school of independence and safety that as an adult I now recognise as a real privilege. »
This community dimension is what the city often lacks. «In such a small place like Sarteano you find real, active, not theoretical voluntary work. There’s a feeling of belonging, a shared desire to make the village beautiful, for yourself and for others. ».
The dream of a house in Sarteano
Hers was a return that was far from being nostalgic: it’s a project. Together with her partner, also Sarteano born and bred, she is looking for a home in the heart of Sarteano. «We want to be in the historic centre, to contribute to keeping it alive all year round, not just in the summer when it is happy to come to life with tourists and second home owners. As a child, I went to buy bread and everyone knew me. It was like having an invisible safety net around me. And now I would like other children to be able to have the same experience. »
The return of a generation
Emma’s story is just one of many who are rewriting the destiny of tiny Italian villages. Young people who are choosing to return, to build their life there, to breathe new life into communities that seemed destined to perpetual silence. Emma believes this is also why many of her generation are returning to their origins. «We all left for a bit, some to study, some for work. But now we’re coming back. Unlike the previous generation, who often left and never returned, we are rediscovering the value of these roots. »
Emma is an obvious example. She didn’t choose Sarteano by chance, but with mindful love. «If I had wanted an apartment in a large block of flats, I would have remained in Florence. On the one hand, Sarteano’s historic centre has its challenges and fewer commodities, but on the other, it has a priceless fascination. For me, the Fortress has a place in my heart. And even the steep, narrow village streets are very beautiful. » And along with Emma, many other young people are creating new stories among the ancient walls of the village and bringing new life and new energy.