Who Was Vitantonio Lovallo?
Vitantonio Lovallo was born in Avigliano in the Basilicata region of southern Italy in March 1914. He lived his entire life in the same town. Local records and statements from the mayor confirm that he continued to tend his vineyard personally even after reaching 100 years of age. He had married in 1936 and had four children with his wife, who died in 2015 at the age of 98.
Service in the Second World War
Lovallo was conscripted during the Second World War. He was captured by German forces and held in a prisoner-of-war camp between 1943 and 1945. The mayor's statement and contemporary reports note this period of captivity as part of his documented life history. After the war he returned to Avigliano and resumed farming and sheep herding alongside his vineyard work.
Confirmation of Age and Recognition
The Gerontology Research Group lists Lovallo's birth date as 25 March 1914, placing him at 112 years old at the time of death. The organisation had previously validated him as the oldest man in Europe. No additional supercentenarian claims from the same region have been verified by the group in recent months.
Who Succeeds Him as Europe's Oldest Man?
According to the Gerontology Research Group, Joaquim Varela of Portugal now holds the title of oldest living man in Europe. Varela turned 111 in June 2026. The same data set places him 32nd overall on the European list, behind 31 women. The current oldest person in Europe and worldwide, per the group, is Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom, born in August 1909 and aged 117.
Local Reaction in Avigliano
Mayor Giuseppe Mecca posted on social media that Avigliano had lost a piece of its history. He described Lovallo as someone who remained part of the community fabric. No official funeral arrangements have been published beyond the mayor's statement.
Frequently asked questions
How old was Vitantonio Lovallo when he died?
He was 112 years old. Official records list his birth date as 25 March 1914.
Where did Vitantonio Lovallo live?
He lived his entire life in Avigliano, a town in the Basilicata region of southern Italy .
Who is now Europe's oldest man?
The Gerontology Research Group identifies Joaquim Varela of Portugal, aged 111, as the new title holder.
Did Vitantonio Lovallo fight in the Second World War?
He was captured by German forces and held in a prisoner-of-war camp from 1943 to 1945.
How old is the oldest person in Europe?
Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom, born in August 1909, is listed at 117 years old by the Gerontology Research Group.
