Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
30 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
Feedback
14
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Badges (4)
Details
Description
I'm Guido, 62 and have the luck of owing a property in Tuscany.
The property includes woods, land, and buildings, which used to be a farm dating back to the 1800s.
I’ve worked in IT, while my partner, Barbara, is a middle school science teacher. She joins me in this beautiful place on weekends and during school holidays.
The farm estate is formed by a group of buildings established around an old farm house which stood close to the old road connecting the Sieve valley with the region of Casentino, at the base of the Falterona mountain.
The family owns the farm since the 18th Century.
The main buildings are in a stunning location on the hills, 20-minute walk from Londa, a village with all the necessary amenities, and 45-minute train ride from Florence city centre.
I am looking the way to keep this lovely place alive and populated and I love having the chance to meet people from all over the world.
On the farm we have some olive trees and in novembre we harvest and then produce high quality cold-pressed natural Tuscan olive oil for family and friend use, but I have plans for many other activities, including agriculture, culture, music, energy efficiency.
During the winter, and early spring seasons, the farm becomes especially quiet but still there is al lot to do for the house maintenance.
This year I’ve decided to move here permanently and restore the place to its former glory.To achieve this, I need to create synergies and collaborations, to learn and exchange skills and experiences. Ultimately, the goal is to create a dynamic community, and for these reasons, I’m offering hosting on Workaway for stays of at least ten days to allow for meaningful exchanges.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will fall in love with Caiano and it's atmosphere - we are in a bieutifull area not far from Florence and the major tuscany cities (Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Arezzo) but also near the Monte Falterona, Foreste Casentinesi e Campigna national parc. So you can enjoy culture and nature.... and if you are a reader the Farm house holds approx 1000 books!
The type of help needed from workawayers is very diverse and can be aligned with each person’s skills, preferences, and interests.
The schedule for help hours or days off can be arranged to balance the workawayer’s need for free time—for example, to visit nearby cities like Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Arezzo, or Siena.
Help
At Caiano there is a lot to do to maintan and restore the houses and the garden and fields around.
In the summer, the main activities are maintaining the garden and the countryside along with the maintenace - maintenece never ends i an 18th century farm!
The area is fantastic both for nature and for history!
Nearby, there are significant Etruscan ruins, wonderful hikes in the Casentino Forests National Park, and cool waterfalls in the woods where you can swim. During summer time we have a pool and workes can enjoy with a fresh swim.
In the fall, the main activities are the building maintenance, and from October to December, the olive harvest. We have approx 100 olive trees that need maintenance (helper that are experienced with the pruning of olive trees are most wellcome!). During this communal experience, you can learn how olive oil is made and meet many of our friends.
The autumn and winter months are primarily focused on developing agricultural projects (pruning, viticulture, gardening based on the Fukuoka/Cappello method), managing the extensive woods, and restoring and enhancing currently unused spaces within the farm.
In the main farm building there is a rich and ancient library (approx 1000 books!) that needs to be organized, with many books needing rebinding and proper preservation.
In spring, activities are mainly outdoors, preparing the garden and maintaining the fields, as well as taking care of the springs that serve the farm.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Italian: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
I speak italian, english and french and I am open to learn other languages.
Accommodation
You will live in my house and sleep is a big shared room.... till we restore some more!
In exchange for accommodation in a 5-bed dormitory and meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), 20 hours of help per week are required.
What else ...
From the there are wonderfull walks in the countryside and in the woods of the National Park that can end with a swim under the waterfalls!
The village of Londa is at approx 3km - 20 minutes walk downhill ... some more uphill ;-)
At 6km there is the train station that brings you to Florence in approx 40 minutes.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Caiano is a very quiet place for remote workers. At the moment it is connected via 4G router but the connection will be shortly improved for high speed.
Can possibly accept pets
Pets are wellcome under your responsability.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (5)
A very proactive and mature young girl.
She will always be welcome in Caiano!
Lenny is a sweet person and a really hard worker!
Without his help the renovation of the villa house would not be done.
I wish we will meet again!
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
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A very proactive and mature young girl.
She will always be welcome in Caiano!
Lenny is a sweet person and a really hard worker!
Without his help the renovation of the villa house would not be done.
I wish we will meet again!
Guido and Barbara were very kind and always made sure everything was good. We harvested a lot of olives together;)
I liked the beautiful village and neighbors were so friendly!!
He gave us opportunities to learn and experience the local activities such as olive oil making,… read more
A lot happening there and I learned a little bit of everything. Olive harvesting, wine production and delicious food.
I was glad to help with the olive harvest, the persianas that we repaired and… read more
I got to know how the olive harvest functions and did renovations in an old villa, that is right next to the farm… read more
They are kind-hearted and willing individuals who carried out all the tasks assigned to them with great energy.
Their wonderful creativity shone on numerous occasions. For example,… read more
