Ligurian Village Welcomes First Baby In 67 Years

For the first time after 67 years, the little village of Lissa in Liguria has welcomed a new baby, bringing its population to a total of…6 people. Baby Francesco was born on September 24 and is the son of Michele and Sabrina Isella, who moved to Lissa from the Lecco area five years ago, after falling in love with the nature of the place. “We didn’t want to start a family in an urban, industrial area and when we discovered this place we decided to change our lives and move here,” Sabrina said. Sabrina teaches middle school in nearby Varese Ligure on a temp contract, while Francesco, a textile worker currently unemployed, spends the day doing manual work, like tending to their vegetable garden and chopping wood. "We don't have any problems," they say. Lissa residents, who have seen their population decline drastically in recent decades, welcomed the new arrival as a sign of hope.