Italy’s Most Livable City?

The Hilltop Haven Where Italy's Old Soul Still Lives…

DAILY POSTCARD  | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2025 Dear International Living reader, Imagine a place where medieval walls guard a way of life most of us thought was long gone… where meals stretch for hours, neighbors still know each other's names, and sunsets spill across rolling Umbrian hills.  Christopher Laney spent a month inside this "world's most livable city," and what he found wasn't just charm—it was a blueprint for a richer, slower, more connected kind of life. In the story below, you'll follow him through Todi's cobblestone lanes, meet the expats who've made this hilltop village home, and discover why so many others are considering a better life behind its ancient walls… P.S. If you don't claim your FREE copy of Europe's Hidden Coast: Where American Retirees Can Discover Italian-Style Charm for $1,100 a Month before midnight, it's gone. Don't miss out, get your copy here with our special deal now. Todi, Italy: The "World's Most Livable City" By Christopher Laney "I've rented a two-bedroom apartment in central Italy," Patricia wrote. "It's in Todi, a medieval walled village. I'm offering the extra bedroom to good friends like you." Medieval walled village? Todi? I wasn't even sure how to pronounce it. (It's tow-dee, for the record.) I was in the middle of launching my first novel, overwhelmed with a to-do list that felt longer than the book itself. Patricia, a friend and former colleague, had just offered me the chance to slow down after the book launch. And returning to Italy was a chance at a welcome do-over. In my early 20s, I'd enjoyed many free trips to Italy courtesy of the US Navy. But I didn't properly appreciate Italy's true treasures of history, culture, and cuisine back then. As the years passed, I'd longed to return to the country with older, wiser eyes. "I'm in," I answered. I flew to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, hopping trains to the Terni Station where Patricia picked me up. Passing through the lush Italian countryside in our tiny rental car, we fell back into familiar conversations—as if we'd last seen each other just two weeks—not two years—before. Perched high under an intense Umbrian sun, Todi's formidable limestone buildings cascade from a two-crested hilltop down to protective walls. Vespas and cars parked just outside the one-time defensive stronghold are the only interruptions of the strong fairytale feel. Stepping through a keystone archway in a side entrance to the village, my roller bag clacked on cobblestone. The sound harked back to the village's early origins—a time when people traveled by foot or on horseback, when communities relied on each other. The walled Medieval town of Todi, Italy where Christopher spent a month. The Italian press once touted Todi as the world's most livable city, thanks to its small size and ability to stay true to its ancient origins. After spending a week there, it's apparent why. As Patricia and I explored its labyrinthine streets, the vibrancy of its community was palpable. Sustainability and slow living are the preferences of the day. Meals are rarely rushed and conversation flows. Residents take pride in local sourcing. Navigate the endless alleyways in Todi, and you may see a delivery man hauling a side of beef on his back, making his way to one of the many hidden restaurants within those alleys that boast expansive views of the Umbrian countryside from their patios. Most restaurants cook their dishes from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. The restaurateur at La Cantina Del Mercataccio lovingly bragged his mom had made the pasta the day before. I enjoyed mine loaded with the black truffles grown in the region, where they are plentiful and celebrated. Nearby vineyards produce much of the wine paired with meals, including a Grechetto white, one of my new favorites made with the Grechetto di Todi grape. Flanked by churches, Todi's medieval square is one of the oldest—and most beautiful—in Italy. Todi also engages its dynamic international community by hosting festivals and exhibitions, when its Piazza del Popolo becomes center stage. During my stay, the Todi Fiorita exhibition hit full bloom and colorful flowers filled the square, delighting onlookers.  On my first full day in Todi, Patricia and I met Grace, an American who had recently sold her beloved house in the California redwoods. Over a three-hour meal, we learned Grace's father had been born in Italy, and many cousins still lived here. Grace had sought an Italian locale to be closer to family, and stretch her dollar the way California would never allow. We also met Jennifer and Chad, Americans who'd relocated from Washington, DC to Amsterdam six years ago, but didn't find the close-knit community they craved. Now, they live within Todi's walls, enjoying panoramic vistas from their tiered garden, filled with olive trees, rosemary, lavender, and a small vegetable garden Jennifer grew this winter. They purchased their 3,200-sq-foot stone apartment for €430,000 ($499,000)… a third of their Amsterdam home's cost. Italy drew them initially with its tempting tax programs for expats, but once they moved to Todi, they found an unexpected gem in the thriving international community. Todi delivered a better social life than anywhere they've lived. They regularly interact with friends from across the globe: Americans, Australians, Swedes, Russians, and, of course, Italians. They still find opportunities to make new friends. "I showed up at a book club recently knowing two of the people," Jennifer said, "but there were 30 I didn't know." Spending time with Grace and others, learning their stories, and reconnecting with my friend Patricia over long meals fed my craving for the sense of community that's becoming rarer in the US. While I'd come to Todi to experience Italy with a more mature perspective, I was struck by a sense of familiarity when dining outside, immersed in panoramic views. As I sat down to one of my final meals in Todi on the patio of Ristorante Pizzeria Cavour overlooking the Umbrian landscape, I realized the source of my déjà vu. The rolling green foothills before me transported me to my childhood, where I'd spent large portions of the summer with extended family in similar hills in North Carolina. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles had built their homes on nearby peaks, the same ones my cousins and I lost ourselves in most summer days. Back then, we relied on each other, our extended family, and the local community. I looked around the patio at other diners, all immersed in conversations, each with peaceful, unhurried expressions that are rare in the many places I visit. I knew then why so many love calling the walled village of Todi their home. And why many more, including myself, would like to. Editor's Note: At International Living, we're on a mission to introduce you to the best-value escapes around the world... we have people on the ground scouting out for us places the mainstream doesn't know about yet. And that keeps us ahead of the curve when it comes to romantic opportunities like the one we detail in our brand-new report, Europe's Hidden Coast. If you dream of a low-cost Tuscan countryside… an affordable Lake Como retreat… or a buzzing Mediterranean beach city that won't empty your wallet, you'll find the details you need in its pages. Get your FREE copy here with our special membership offer. Don't delay—this offer only lasts until midnight tonight. 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