Italy's oldest man, 112-year-old Vitantonio Lovallo, dies in Basilicata

Vitantonio Lovallo, who reached 112 years and held the title of Italy’s oldest man, died in Sarnelli, a small fraction of Avigliano in the Potenza province of Basilicata. Born in March 1914, he worked as a shepherd and farmer for most of his life, fought as a soldier in the Second World War and endured captivity. Even after turning 109 he continued to tend his family’s land, and his simple, rural diet was often cited as a factor in his longevity.

In March 2026 he celebrated his 112th birthday surrounded by relatives, and his remarkable age had drawn attention from national media and super-centenarian researchers. Regional agriculture, food and forestry minister Carmine Cicala mourned his passing, noting his role as a living witness to a century of Italian history. The community will hold his funeral tomorrow morning at the San Vincenzo Ferrer church in Sarnelli.