Why Sardinia’s Blue Zone lifestyle inspires us

What's a Blue Zone?

Blue Zone is the name given to incredibly rare places where people live, and age, better and longer than almost anywhere else on the planet.

The term Blue Zone was coined about 25 years ago by Dr. Gianni Pes, a physician from Sassari, the same town we come from, together with Belgian demographer Michel Poulain. During their research on longevity in central Sardinia, they marked with a blue pen the villages where they found the highest number of centenarians. That’s how the name was born. Today, Gianni Pes is co-founder and president of the Sardinia Longevity Blue Zone Observatory, which continues to study these extraordinary communities.

The Sardinian ingredients for longevity

It’s not just about genes. What makes the difference seems to be a mix of factors:

• Simple food rich in legumes, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil
• A glass of good wine in moderation
• Daily movement built into everyday life
• Strong family and social bonds
• A lifestyle built around genuine human connections and natural rhythms

These are the “secrets of longevity” that have fascinated scientists, writers, and even Netflix documentaries, including Down to Earth with Zac Efron, which featured Sardinia’s Blue Zone to show how lifestyle and community shape a longer, better life.

How the Blue Zone inspires our travel philosophy

For us, the Blue Zone is not just about longevity. It’s an invitation to:

• travel more slowly,
• connect with people,
• enjoy authentic food and traditions,
• discover Sardinia at its own rhythm.

Travelling this way means supporting local communities, avoiding the rush, and finding inspiration in a lifestyle that values wellbeing and connection.

A story rooted in Sassari

And for us, there’s an extra sense of pride: knowing that the story of the Blue Zone started in Sassari, the town where we were born and raised, and the same land that continues to inspire our work today.