Paper Short Abstract:

This study explores the life of R., a Tuscan craftsman who practices radical immobility as an act of resistance. Living in a renovated mill near the Chiantishire, R. rejects modern conveniences and tourism-driven commodification, opting instead for a lifestyle rooted in self-production and immobility. Paradoxically, his retreat from modernity has made him a focal point for visitors intrigued by his alternative existence, particularly after the pandemic. R.'s story emphasize the choice of immobility in a world characterized by hypermobility and illustrates how personal resistance can challenge the commodification of rural spaces.

Paper Abstract:

This study examines the life of R., a wood craftsman who has embraced immobility and radical self-sufficiency as acts of resistance in the Tuscan countryside. Over two decades ago, R. settled in a renovated mill near the Chiantishire, a region celebrated for its iconic landscapes and global tourism appeal. However, R.’s lifestyle starkly contrasts with the commodified rural idyll associated with this area. Instead of participating in its aestheticized economy, R. has chosen a radical return to peasant traditions, abandoning cars, electricity, and telecommunications in favor of self-production and walking as his sole means of transportation.

R.’s choice of immobility, rather than leading to isolation, has transformed him into a social focal point. Visitors, drawn to his unconventional way of life, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, have sought to understand or experience this alternative existence. R.’s story thus highlights a tension between retreat and engagement, as his personal resistance inadvertently fosters a relational network.

By analyzing R.’s radical immobility as both a personal choice and a form of quiet resistance, this research contributes to ongoing debates on rurality, authenticity, and the interplay between isolation and relationality in alternative living practices. The findings suggest that such forms of resistance, while grounded in individual agency, carry broader implications for rethinking the politics of rural landscapes in an era of increasing commodification and globalization.