The idea of living as a recluse might sound like something from the distant past, a lifestyle once chosen by medieval monks seeking enlightenment. But in reality, people today still make the decision to step away from society entirely.
What drives them? Some long for simplicity, others seek peace, and some just want to escape the pressures of modern life—like my uncle Enrico.
Take Flaminio, for instance. With his wild hair and long, flowing white beard, he looks exactly like you’d picture a hermit. He has spent more than five decades living on a remote hillside farm in northern Italy, completely removed from the outside world.
50 Years Off the Grid—A Glimpse into His Remote Home
His journey into isolation began at just 23 years old when, without warning, he was thrown out of his home. Rather than rebuild his life within society, he made an unexpected choice—to leave it all behind and embrace solitude, accompanied only by his flock of sheep.
There’s something almost poetic about his existence. Flaminio has severed all ties with modern civilization—no television, no phone, no internet.
Over the years, he has mastered the art of self-sufficiency. He stitches his own clothing from sheepskin and relies on a sundial he crafted himself to keep track of time.
A Life Shaped by Nature
His daily routine is dictated by the most basic human needs. He eats only what he grows and enjoys fresh cheese made from the milk of his sheep.
When I first heard his story, I couldn’t quite understand why someone would willingly choose such a life. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized—perhaps Flaminio has uncovered a truth that many of us in the modern world have forgotten.
Isolation doesn’t necessarily mean misery. For him, solitude is a conscious decision, a path to a more meaningful existence.
50 Years in Seclusion—A Home Unlike Any Other
“In the evenings, I sometimes feel a little lonely… maybe even a bit sad,” he admits in a documentary about his life. “But in the morning, when I see my sheep, I feel at peace.”
