A village in Italy that is not accessible by car

 BBC News

An isolated mountainous region on the slopes of the Alps in Italy is proof that it is possible to travel to another world in just five minutes.

Situated on the slopes of the Aosta Valley in northwestern Italy, it is the only village in the country without access by car. This cluster of seven settlements is called shamos and can only be reached on foot or by trail or by bicycle or sometimes by tractor.

Cars weren't even on the radar until the 1960s. At an altitude of 1,815 meters, Shamos was protected from highways and traffic, but with the development of Italy's transport infrastructure during the country's economic boom in the early 1960s, the 18th-century village had to decide for itself whether to Want to embrace the automobile era?

And they decided not to.

In 1965, 95% of the town's residents voted against a road that would connect them to the valley below, but they did not insist on being isolated from the world.

Instead, the people of Shamos requested the construction of a cableway to replace an old mule trail that could be used to go up and down mountainous terrain.

Connecting to the valley's nearby village of Boisen, Shamos would easily connect to the growing network of roads connecting Italy, but then it would have been difficult to live without a city full of cars.

The first cableway was short, but it allowed people to get up and down the mountain faster. The 700-meter cableway climb took just a few minutes. In 2001 came a more modern cableway that could carry more passengers more comfortably.

However, despite a short journey to the lower valley, the population of Shamos dwindled. There used to be about 350 people living there but now there are only about 100 people living there.

Although the villagers are determined to stay that way, they want to experiment with sustainable renewable energy projects, depending on the circumstances.

In fact, Shamos is one of 19 Alpine Pearl villages connecting the Alps in Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. This group of towns and lesser-known villages, known for their resorts, is united in its commitment to environmental sustainability, including climate-friendly transportation options.

And even though it is isolated, Shamos and other such places are an attraction for visitors who want a place in the air.

In the summer, cyclists and hikers take a leisurely stroll around the area. In winter, skiers cross the 16-kilometer crowded empty slopes and the empty paths of the modest ski resort of Shamos.

The few minutes it takes to reach Shamos from the valley below are enough to shelter it from the pace of modern life. Life in the car-less town of Italy runs at a human pace, and the views of the Alps are breathtaking.