‘I’ve met 10 popes, from Pius X to Bergoglio’: tiny Italian town sets record as 10th resident turns 100

Two birthdays bring number of over-100s in Perdasdefogu to 10 in a population of 1,765

Vittorio Lai, nicknamed Pistol, still drives and hunts wild boar, and on Saturday became the latest person in Perdasdefogu, a remote mountain town on the Italian island of Sardinia that set a world record for longevity, to celebrate his 100th birthday.

He will be joined this week by another sprightly centenarian, Piuccia Lai (no relation), who has no qualms about hopping on a plane to visit her sons in Milan, bringing the total number of over-100s in the town to 10 among a population of 1,765.