The village of Campodimele in the Aurunci Mountains
has been called 'the village of eternal youth' by the
scientific community, after a study revealed the
astonishing longevity of its inhabitants. The average
life expectancy of the Campomelani is 95, compared to
the European average of 75 for men and 82 for women. Not
only do the villagers live to an extraordinary age, but
they also enjoy healthy and active lives at an age when
many people in the UK have succumbed to general
infirmity or the three major plagues of Western life:
cancer, heart disease and diabetes. How do they do it?
Tracey Lawson decided that the only way to find out was
to spend some time living in the village herself. This
book chronicles twelve months in the life of
Campodimele, focusing on the seasonal cooking and eating
habits that doctors believe are the key to the
villagers' long lives. There are insights from such
colourful characters as Gerardo, who still zips down to
the wheat fields on his aged scooter, and Maria, who is
often seen chasing hens up the hill on her 83-year-old
legs, as well as a year's worth of timeless, simple
recipes that will seduce even the busiest urbanite.With
full-colour plate sections to show off the wealth of
gorgeous photography, A Year in the Village of Eternity
is at once a Mediterranean cookbook, a sensible and
inspiring food manual and a stunning, unique travel
book; a winning cross between Under the Tuscan Sun and
Jamie's Italy with a dash of You Are What You
Eat. |
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