A bit smaller is an understatement. Magliano Sabina is a commune outside of Rome with a population of about 4,000. It’s situated on a hill, with stunning views of the surrounding area.

The commune of Magliano Sabina, visible through the morning fog
The whole town can be seen from the train station

The weather on the day I arrived was beautiful, so I decided to walk from the train station instead of taking the bus. The six-kilometer hike –with a 150-meter elevation increase– was rather tough with my backpack, but it was rewarding to make it on my own two feet.

Sheep grazing next to the river
Baaaa!
A bridge I crossed on my hike
The walkway is barely wide enough for my backpack

Unfortunately the weather for the rest of my two-day visit was pretty dreary, with thick fog and rain. Because of this I wasn’t able to do much hiking, but the skies cleared up in the evenings, and I was able to take relaxing walks in the town.

Thick fog rolling across the mountain in the morning
I can barely see my hand in front of my face
A road with a sign indicating a 30% grade
That's quite steep
A beautiful nativity diorama

My hostel was part of an old convent at the edge of town, a beautiful building with an extraordinary view from my window, and spacious grounds to relax in and admire. It’s the low season for tourism right now, so there was maybe one other guest while I was there. For breakfast, the hostel has a genius strategy: vouchers for a free coffee and pastry at any of the cafes in town.

The sunset seen from my hostel window
Breathtaking
The cathedral in town

I could stay in Magliano Sabina forever, but I have a ferry to Albania in a week, so I need to make my way to the coast. It is by far the smallest place I’ve visited so far, and it reminds me of how much I love the small town vibe. I’ll need to make sure to get out of the big city more often in the future.