Feted birth of bambina Lara in Pagliara dei Marsi highlights sticky national debate over country’s ‘demographic winter’The parents put up a ribbon in the main square to spread the happy news.
Axel has already become a central figure warmly welcomed by everyone with the villagers lining up outside the house to greet the newcomer.
The father said: ” The community has already shown its support by offering practical help and demonstrating a sense of unity that only the small centres can offer.”
In Pagliara dei Marsi, an ancient rural village on the slopes of Mount Girifalco in Italy’s Abruzzo region, cats vastly outnumber people.
Thomas Richeldi and his wife, Simona Albertini have welcomed a new family member on November 6, raising the population of their village to 26 inhabitants.
Thomas said: “In our small way we are managing to go against the trend with the demographic decline in Appennines (mountains).”
They named their newborn son Axel as a tribute to Simona’s favourite group- Guns N’Roses.Axel is not only a joy of his mom and dad, but also of the mostly elderly population of Tizzola.
