It wasn’t long after I moved to the tiny village of Pieve di Compresseto in the heart of Italy that I discovered the secret to living a long, healthy life. Of the 100 people who live here, at least 70 of them are senior citizens and many have lived into their 90s.

Maria, the town’s matriarch, will be 103 this year. While she physically doesn’t get around very well, she’s still as feisty as ever. When it was Elena’s 91st birthday, Maria did not forget to call and wish her a happy birthday!