What is La Dolce Vita? A Guide to the Sweet Life Past and Present

The term La Dolce Vita became iconic in 1960 thanks to Federico Fellini’s masterpiece film of the same name, starring Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg. Set in post-war Rome, the film followed a week in the life of a jaded gossip journalist exploring Rome’s high society.

But La Dolce Vita wasn’t just cinematic fiction—it captured the spirit of the times. In the 1950s and '60s, Rome saw a cultural explosion: fashion, cinema, nightlife, and café culture bloomed along the Via Veneto. Life was fast, glamorous, and indulgent.

People started escaping the chaos of war and hardship into aperitivos at golden hour, conversations about art and life, and long strolls under cypress-lined hills. Italy was reshaping itself—and teaching the world how to live beautifully.

🌿 Evolution: From Cinecittà to the Rolling Hills of Umbria

Over the decades, the meaning of La Dolce Vita shifted from glittery soirées to something even deeper: a mindful movement—a return to slow living, connection, and cherishing the everyday.

Enter today’s new Dolce Vita: living slowly in nature, enjoying meaningful community, savoring every bite and every view. And that's where Dolce Vita Coliving was born.

🏡 Welcome to Dolce Vita Coliving: A New Way to Work & Wander

Located in Vallo di Nera—a postcard-worthy medieval village snuggled in Umbria’s green hills—Dolce Vita Coliving is more than modern coworking. It’s a lifestyle supported by historic stone houses, fast wifi, communal meals, and breathtaking hikes just steps away.

Think: waking up to birdsong, working from a 13th-century building, and ending your day sipping local Montefalco wine with new friends under the stars.

📍 Your Guide to Living La Dolce Vita at Dolce Vita Coliving

🥾 Nature & Culture Walk: The Slow Road from Vallo to Piedipaterno

Duration: 3-4 hours (loop)  
Difficulty: Easy to moderate  
Best Time: Morning to late afternoon  
What to Bring: Water, comfy shoes, a sun hat, camera, and a light daypack.

Start your stroll from Vallo di Nera, admiring its flower-filled stone alleys and panoramic views of the Valnerina. Take the scenic trail that meanders down to Piedipaterno, passing olive groves, medieval chapels, and possibly even a shepherd or two.

Don’t forget to peek inside the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, a gem of Umbrian medieval art.

On your way back, stop at the local farm shop to pick up fresh ricotta and wildflower honey. Perfect for a picnic on the stone terraces.

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🍇 Food & Wine Itinerary: A Taste of Umbria’s Soul

This is where La Dolce Vita truly comes alive—on the plate and in your glass.

⛲ Morning: Spoleto Farmers’ Market  
Wander through stalls filled with just-picked vegetables, foraged mushrooms, cured Umbrian sausages (norcineria), golden olive oil, and crusty bread. Grab a panino and some local pecorino for the road.

🍝 Lunch Stop: Trattoria La Campanella in Scheggino  
Don’t miss their homemade strangozzi pasta with truffles. Pair it with a glass of Grechetto—a crisp local white wine.

🍷 Afternoon Wine Tasting: Cantina Romanelli (Montefalco)  
Drive (or arrange a driver) to this family-run winery with vines dating back generations. Their Montefalco Sagrantino is the region’s crown jewel: bold, complex, and unforgettable.

Book a tasting and enjoy sweeping views over silvery olive groves and gently rolling vineyards.

🍨 Evening Gelato: Norcia  
A short drive from Vallo di Nera, Norcia is a destination in itself. Try a scoop of pistachio or dark chocolate gelato, then stroll its quiet piazzas lit by soft lamplight. Bliss.

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🥳 Seasonal Happenings To Catch:

- Infiorata di Spello (June) – A magical flower petal celebration that transforms village streets into blooming carpets.
- Umbria Jazz Festival (July, Perugia) – Catch world-renowned musicians in open-air piazzas.
- Festa della Valnerina (August, Vallo di Nera) – Enjoy folk music, medieval games, and riverside grills with locals.

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📸 Photo Diary Moments to Capture:

- Morning mist over the Nera river valley 🌫  
- A handwritten menu board in Scheggino 🍝  
- Your laptop perched on a 700-year-old windowsill 💻  
- Aperitivo on the terrace at golden hour 🍷🌇  
- A spontaneous pasta-making night with fellow colivers 👩‍🍳

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