Scientists also say that sexual activity is 'rampant' with the elderly

One centenarian said locals living in the village only eat 'healthy stuff'

81 villagers out of the 700 living in Acciaroli, Italy, are 100 years old

A village in Italy where more than one in 10 residents reach 100 years old has revealed the secret to their longevity - by 'only eating healthy stuff'.

Scientists have spent the last six months researching why residents living in Acciaroli, a tiny village on the west coast of Italy - 90 miles south of Naples - live for so long.

Experts have commented on their healthy diet and added that the sexual activity with the elderly living in the village 'appears to be rampant'.

Antonio Vassalo, one of 81 centenarians in the village of Acciaroli, with his wife Amina, who is a spring chicken at 93

Sapienza University's Salvatore Di Somma said the goal was to identify what Acciaroli has to offer the rest of the world

And as a result, locals also seem to be largely immune from heart disease, dementia and other conditions associated with ageing in the rest of the Western world.

More than one in 10 - 81 at the mayor's last count - of the village's population of 700 has passed the century mark.

Local Antonio Vassalo, 100, referred to the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet based on olive oil, vegetables, fish and a fresh fruit.

He said: 'We only eat healthy stuff.'

His wife Amina, 93, added: 'We eat a lot of fish, fresh produce from the countryside that we grow ourselves.

Acciaroli is part of the Cilento coast, a largely industry-free area of outstanding natural beauty that now has national park protected status

81 people out of the village's population of 700 had passed the century mark at the last count, leaving scientists baffled

'We have our own rabbits, our chickens. Only local products. And olive oil: we consume what we produce.'

Experts from Rome's Sapienza University and the San Diego School of Medicine will unveil their findings at a conference in the village today.

Acciaroli is part of the Cilento coast, a largely industry-free area of outstanding natural beauty that now has national park protected status.

Alan S. Maisel, the San Diego cardiologist heading up the project, said the explanation for the longevity and sprightliness could lie in any number of factors.

These include the villagers' high consumption of the pungent herb rosemary and their active lifestyle imposed by their home's steep streets.

Stefano Pisani, mayor of Acciaroli, stands a one in ten chances of making it to his 100th birthday

Mr Maisel said: 'Is there something in their genes that may, along with something that they do make them live longer and healthy?

'They eat rosemary almost every day, and they grow it - maybe this does something that helps. We know that rosemary improves brain function.

'They are also all physically active. Whether it is fishing, walking or gardening, everyone does something every day.'

Their study focused on 80 elderly people including 25 centenarians.

Sapienza University's Salvatore Di Somma said the goal was to identify what Acciaroli has to offer the rest of the world.

Locals typically eat a Mediterranean diet based on olive oil, vegetables, fish and a fresh fruit

Scientists have spent the last six months researching why residents living in Acciaroli, a tiny village on the west coast of Italy - 90 miles south of Naples - live for so long

He said: 'What we would like to create is a sort of clinical scoresheet, a tool that says that someone who wants to live well for a long time should have a certain type of diet, a certain level of physical activity, a certain type of social life and a certain way of thinking.'

Maisel said Acciaroli was unusual in that the numbers of very old people were split evenly between men and women.

He added: 'Usually a significantly higher number of women live longer than men.'

And there could be another very important ingredient in the recipe for a long and happy life.