The Italian hamlet that gives a glimpse of life before the web

Galliano di Mugello's poor signal has endeared it to Italians, but the mayor hopes to use recent publicity to close the digital divide

At the cafe that doubles-up as a newsagent in Galliano di Mugello, a medieval hamlet in Tuscany, there are no pings from mobile phones, people aimlessly browsing the internet or uploading pictures of their cappuccino to Instagram. Instead, customers read the newspaper - their main source of information on the outside world - or talk to each other.

Surrounded by Tuscany's postcard perfect cypress trees and rolling hills, Galliano di Mugello, would be a haven for those wanting a digital detox. But the absence of mobile phone coverage is a much less endearing quirk for the 1,300 or so inhabitants, who are starting to rise up against not being able to make a call, send a text or search for something on Google on their handsets.