Margherita Ciarletta, an inhabitant of central Italy’s Abruzzo region, has become world famous for her traditional clothing style. However, the 94-year-old is not pleased with her famous status.
The medieval village of Scanno, located amidst the mountains of central Italy’s Abruzzo region, might not ring a bell with most. However, travellers who have visited the village in the past or those who are planning on doing so might have heard about one of its residents: Margherita Ciarletta, also known as Nonna Margherita or L’Ultima Regina.
The reason why locals tend to call her L’Ultima Regina (The Last Queen) is her clothes. Margherita is the last inhabitant of Scanno to wear the village’s traditional clothing style on a daily basis. Her outfit is simple and has changed little since she was 18 years old: a dark gown made out of wool with long black sleeves and a cotton headband.
In the past, that wardrobe was worn by women while doing their daily chores. On Sunday, many preferred a more detailed outfit with an embroidered bodice, which is still worn by some during special festivities. Now, Margherita is the only one to stick to the tradition, since her two sisters recently passed away. Local authorities are even trying to have the costumes, as worn by Margherita, recognised by UNESCO as examples of intangible cultural heritage.
“I’ve always liked this dress, I am proud to wear it. It was, and still is, my ordinary everyday dress. My husband never liked it but that did not stop me from wearing it every day, both while working in the fields and during festivities”, Margherita Ciarletta told CNN.
🇮🇹 94 yrs young & still draped in tradition — Margherita Ciarletta of Scanno remains the last woman to wear her village’s historic costume every day—living heritage.
— Transit Prime (@TransitPrimeKe) September 17, 2025
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A living historical monument
Ciarletta, who was born and raised in Scanno and has lived in the same village dwelling since 1950, has now become the symbol of the local lifestyle that once was. With a population that has plunged from some 4,000 inhabitants in the 1920s to 1,600 today, life in Scanno has changed a lot since the 94-year-old was born. However, while she misses some of the people who have since passed away, Margherita is mainly pleased with her life in 2025.
“I have worked all my life in the fields until I was 70, also looking after my family’s farm animals. That was physically demanding work. The lifestyle I lead now is way better than my previous one. I’m better off today than I was yesterday; I have time for myself and I relax. I’ve come to discover and appreciate what leisure is”, she tells CNN.
Modern life also has some less pleasant sides, however. Since Magherita’s image first appeared on social media, she has become somewhat of a local tourist attraction. According to Margherita, she is just another grandmother from Scanno, albeit one who has chosen to stick to the traditional clothing style.
But according to the internet, Margherita Ciarletta is the image of a time long gone, thus worth the detour and even knocking on doors in order to finally locate her house. Some tourists have gone as far as entering her house without her permission, leading Margherita to chase them away. Margherita says she doesn’t mind talking to people and having her picture taken afterwards, yet a little courtesy goes a long way.
