Biological station and wolf documentation center in Apulia looking for a hand, Italy
Letzte Aktivität
: 5 Mai 2025
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Feedback (10)
Rocco is a great person, he was able to pick us up at the station and make himself available to take us back where we wanted. The place is faithful to the description, located in the middle of 200 hectares of nature. Absolute tranquillity and nice setting. Only the winter weather was not adapted to the place of life: stone dormitories without
… read more heating.
We worked for the animals that kept us company: goats, cats, dogs, chickens, cows. We recommend this Workaway but on more summery periods which allows you to enjoy the living environment more.
Thank you for allowing us to do this first workaway in your farm Rocco! and al bucca al lupo ;)
Antoine & Chloé !
Vom Workawayer (Workaway-Mitglied) für Host
We stayed at the station for one week.
Rocco the manager is very friendly. He picked us up at Bari port and drove us to Bari again when we left!
Unfortunately Rocco was very busy when we were there so we didn’t learn much Italien culture. I am sure this would have been different if we had stayed more weeks.
You stay in a house to your self and
… read more other workaway people. There is a kitchen, two nice bathrooms with shower and big sinks just outside. Sleeping is in a dorm with bunk beds. Remember a good sleeping bag as it is a stonehouse.
The work depends on you. You can either go with the shepherd or work on the farm (general farmwork).
Thank you Rocco for giving us our very first workaway experience!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Sophie) für Host
(italiano giú - con errori linguistic)
Ça me fait presque de la peine d’avoir à écrire un commentaire sur un site comme Workaway, tant les jours passés ont été au delà de tout ce que je pouvais attendre de cette expérience.
À aucun moment je ne me suis sentie obligée de faire quoique ce soit. Je l’ai toujours fait de bon coeur. A aucun moment je
… read more ne me suis sentie considérée comme une « employée ». Rocco m’a traitée en amie, m’a ouvert sa porte, m’a fait confiance en me laissant seule avec les bêtes (un sentiment extraordinaire et parfaitement nouveau pour moi). Rocco n’est pas un berger comme les autres. Il n’est pas non plus un universitaire comme les autres. Il est un joyeux mélange des deux, extrêmement généreux, curieux et je manque d’adjectifs. Il ne m’a pas uniquement transmis son savoir, il m’a sans cesse encouragée à réfléchir par moi-même, à donner mon avis, à préciser mon regard.
S’il faut donner un exemple : j’ai longtemps hésité à manger de la viande, consciente des multiples raisons invoquées en faveur du végétarisme, et contre l'élevage. J’avais déjà entendu, de la bouche de « carnivores », l’argument qui consiste à dire que les animaux d’élevage participent à former le paysage et à lui donner une certaine beauté. Cette idée restait très théorique, tout comme l’idée qu’un éleveur peut aimer ses bêtes et faire son travail avec soin. En écoutant Rocco parler de ses bêtes, en le voyant prendre soin d’elles et les considérer comme des brebis, des chèvres, des vaches ou des chevaux doivent être considérés, il m’est apparu évident qu’il existait une troisième voie, juste et responsable, entre le véganisme radical et l’omnivorisme banal.
Les jours passés m’ont ouvert les yeux sur bien d’autres vérités. Des vérités évidentes, mais bien loin de mon quotidien parisien, et des vérités plus complexes, auxquelles je continue de réfléchir.
Les souvenirs que je garde sont un trésor inestimable. Ça paraît peut-être idiot, mais ce voyage m’a prouvé qu’une autre vie était possible – et plus que possible, souhaitable.
En rentrant à Paris, je pensais que je « redescendrais sur terre » après avoir vécu au Paradis pendant plusieurs semaines. En réalité, c’est le contraire que j’ai ressenti : quelques jours après mon retour à la maison, j’ai compris qu’en quittant les Pouilles, Altamura, j’avais quitté La Terre, la vie au rythme du soleil, au rythme des animaux, la vie simple et entière.
A vous, volontaires qui hésitez à partir, n’hésitez plus. Les conditions d’accueil sont optimales, comme décrites dans les précédents commentaires. Vous n’avez rien à perdre, vous avez tout à gagner. "Dai, on the road!"
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Mi dispiace quasi di dover scrivere una recensione su un sito come Workaway, poiché i giorni erano superiore di tutto ciò che potevo aspettarmi da questa esperienza. In nessun momento mi sono sentita in dovere di fare qualsiasi cosa – voglio dire che ho sempre dato una mano con piacere, perché lo volevo.
In nessun momento mi sono sentita considerata come un “volontario”. Rocco mi ha trattato come una amica, mi ha aperta la sua porta, si è fidato di me abbastanza per lasciarmi sola con gli animali (una sensazione straordinaria e perfettamente nuova per me). Rocco non è u pastore come gli altri. Lui non è neanche un accademico come gli altri. Lui è un misto felice di entrambi, estremamente generoso, curioso, e mi mancano aggettivi. Lui non mi ha solamente trasmesso la sua conoscenza della natura, ma anche mi ha costantemente incoraggiato a pensare da sola, a dare la mia opinione, a fare più aguzzo il mio sguardo.
Grazie al dottor Rocco Sorino e grazie al tempo passato a la sua casa, ho aperto gli occhi su molte verità, troppo numerose per citarli tutti qui. Alcuni verità evidente, ma troppo lontane del mio quotidiano parigiano per vederle. Altri verità complesse, alle quali continuo di riflettere.
I miei ricordi sono un tesoro senza prezzo. Forse sembra stupido, ma questa esperienza e questo viaggio mi ha dimostrato che una altra vita era possibile – e non solamente possibile, desiderabile.
Tornando a Parigi, pensavo che io riporterebbe “con piedi per terra”, dopo essere stata al paradiso durante qualche settimane. Ma, in realtà, ho sentito l’esatto opposto : ho capito che lasciando la Puglia, e Altamura, avevo lasciato la Terra, la vita al ritmo del sole, al ritmo degli animali, la vita semplice ma intera.
A voi, volontari che state sul punto di andare ma che esitate, io dico : NON ESITI PIU ! e condizioni materiale di accoglienza sono ottimale, come già descriviti nelle altre recensione. Non avete nulla da perdere, ma tutto da Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Feedback
Dies sind zusätzliche optionale Bewertungen, wenn Mitglieder Feedback hinterlassen. Es wird die im Schnitt hinterlassene Bewertung für jede Option angezeigt.
Korrekte Angaben im Profil:
(4.5)
Kultureller Austausch:
(3.0)
Rocco is a great person, he was able to pick us up at the station and make himself available to take us back where we wanted. The place is faithful to the description, located in the middle of 200 hectares of nature. Absolute tranquillity and nice setting. Only the winter weather was not adapted to the place of life: stone dormitories without
… read more heating.
We worked for the animals that kept us company: goats, cats, dogs, chickens, cows. We recommend this Workaway but on more summery periods which allows you to enjoy the living environment more.
Thank you for allowing us to do this first workaway in your farm Rocco! and al bucca al lupo ;)
Antoine & Chloé !
Vom Workawayer (Workaway-Mitglied) für Host
We stayed at the station for one week.
Rocco the manager is very friendly. He picked us up at Bari port and drove us to Bari again when we left!
Unfortunately Rocco was very busy when we were there so we didn’t learn much Italien culture. I am sure this would have been different if we had stayed more weeks.
You stay in a house to your self and
… read more other workaway people. There is a kitchen, two nice bathrooms with shower and big sinks just outside. Sleeping is in a dorm with bunk beds. Remember a good sleeping bag as it is a stonehouse.
The work depends on you. You can either go with the shepherd or work on the farm (general farmwork).
Thank you Rocco for giving us our very first workaway experience!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Sophie) für Host
(italiano giú - con errori linguistic)
Ça me fait presque de la peine d’avoir à écrire un commentaire sur un site comme Workaway, tant les jours passés ont été au delà de tout ce que je pouvais attendre de cette expérience.
À aucun moment je ne me suis sentie obligée de faire quoique ce soit. Je l’ai toujours fait de bon coeur. A aucun moment je
… read more ne me suis sentie considérée comme une « employée ». Rocco m’a traitée en amie, m’a ouvert sa porte, m’a fait confiance en me laissant seule avec les bêtes (un sentiment extraordinaire et parfaitement nouveau pour moi). Rocco n’est pas un berger comme les autres. Il n’est pas non plus un universitaire comme les autres. Il est un joyeux mélange des deux, extrêmement généreux, curieux et je manque d’adjectifs. Il ne m’a pas uniquement transmis son savoir, il m’a sans cesse encouragée à réfléchir par moi-même, à donner mon avis, à préciser mon regard.
S’il faut donner un exemple : j’ai longtemps hésité à manger de la viande, consciente des multiples raisons invoquées en faveur du végétarisme, et contre l'élevage. J’avais déjà entendu, de la bouche de « carnivores », l’argument qui consiste à dire que les animaux d’élevage participent à former le paysage et à lui donner une certaine beauté. Cette idée restait très théorique, tout comme l’idée qu’un éleveur peut aimer ses bêtes et faire son travail avec soin. En écoutant Rocco parler de ses bêtes, en le voyant prendre soin d’elles et les considérer comme des brebis, des chèvres, des vaches ou des chevaux doivent être considérés, il m’est apparu évident qu’il existait une troisième voie, juste et responsable, entre le véganisme radical et l’omnivorisme banal.
Les jours passés m’ont ouvert les yeux sur bien d’autres vérités. Des vérités évidentes, mais bien loin de mon quotidien parisien, et des vérités plus complexes, auxquelles je continue de réfléchir.
Les souvenirs que je garde sont un trésor inestimable. Ça paraît peut-être idiot, mais ce voyage m’a prouvé qu’une autre vie était possible – et plus que possible, souhaitable.
En rentrant à Paris, je pensais que je « redescendrais sur terre » après avoir vécu au Paradis pendant plusieurs semaines. En réalité, c’est le contraire que j’ai ressenti : quelques jours après mon retour à la maison, j’ai compris qu’en quittant les Pouilles, Altamura, j’avais quitté La Terre, la vie au rythme du soleil, au rythme des animaux, la vie simple et entière.
A vous, volontaires qui hésitez à partir, n’hésitez plus. Les conditions d’accueil sont optimales, comme décrites dans les précédents commentaires. Vous n’avez rien à perdre, vous avez tout à gagner. "Dai, on the road!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mi dispiace quasi di dover scrivere una recensione su un sito come Workaway, poiché i giorni erano superiore di tutto ciò che potevo aspettarmi da questa esperienza. In nessun momento mi sono sentita in dovere di fare qualsiasi cosa – voglio dire che ho sempre dato una mano con piacere, perché lo volevo.
In nessun momento mi sono sentita considerata come un “volontario”. Rocco mi ha trattato come una amica, mi ha aperta la sua porta, si è fidato di me abbastanza per lasciarmi sola con gli animali (una sensazione straordinaria e perfettamente nuova per me). Rocco non è u pastore come gli altri. Lui non è neanche un accademico come gli altri. Lui è un misto felice di entrambi, estremamente generoso, curioso, e mi mancano aggettivi. Lui non mi ha solamente trasmesso la sua conoscenza della natura, ma anche mi ha costantemente incoraggiato a pensare da sola, a dare la mia opinione, a fare più aguzzo il mio sguardo.
Grazie al dottor Rocco Sorino e grazie al tempo passato a la sua casa, ho aperto gli occhi su molte verità, troppo numerose per citarli tutti qui. Alcuni verità evidente, ma troppo lontane del mio quotidiano parigiano per vederle. Altri verità complesse, alle quali continuo di riflettere.
I miei ricordi sono un tesoro senza prezzo. Forse sembra stupido, ma questa esperienza e questo viaggio mi ha dimostrato che una altra vita era possibile – e non solamente possibile, desiderabile.
Tornando a Parigi, pensavo che io riporterebbe “con piedi per terra”, dopo essere stata al paradiso durante qualche settimane. Ma, in realtà, ho sentito l’esatto opposto : ho capito che lasciando la Puglia, e Altamura, avevo lasciato la Terra, la vita al ritmo del sole, al ritmo degli animali, la vita semplice ma intera.
A voi, volontari che state sul punto di andare ma che esitate, io dico : NON ESITI PIU ! e condizioni materiale di accoglienza sono ottimale, come già descriviti nelle altre recensione. Non avete nulla da perdere, ma tutto da Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Workaway-Mitglied) für Host
We had the most amazing experience with Rocco on the farm :) not only was the work we did very enjoyable but the whole cultural aspect was lovely for us, getting involved in all things Italian, learning new words and eating the most delicious food we had ever tried! We did lots of practical work while we were there like building new gates,
… read more painting them, some gardening and of course being shepherds which is something we had never done before. What we also really enjoyed was observing the dogs behaviours. The dogs on the farm are working dogs and it was very interesting to see them Interact with the sheep and goats and how they protect them. While we were there one of the dogs had nasty cut on its leg which throughout our stay we tried to mend by cleaning and disinfecting everyday. We were not able to see her full recovery as we had to leave but I hope she is all healed up now :) we would recommend this workaway however it would better if you spoke a little Italian so that you get the most out of the experience.
Thank you Rocco for the most amazing experience!!!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Magdalena) für Host
I stayed here for about 3 weeks in the surprisingly busy period in March. Both Rocco and Giuseppe are very friendly people and the farm is situated in a very beautiful place so you can enjoy your time here. However please note there is no wi-fi here and the phone service is not great either so I would only recommend this place for people who like
… read more tranquillity. The work is mostly helping Giuseppe (the sheperd) to take care of all the animals in the farm (goats, sheeps, hoarses, chickens, dogs and cats) so if you are scared of animals this is not a place for you. I would also recommend the stay here only for people with some knowledge of Italian language as Giuseppe doesn't speak English at all. I really enjoyed my time here as I had a great opportunity to practise my Italian and learn a lot about the animal behaviour. Herding the goats will be a great experience for all who likes trekking. If you come in the right period you will also have a chance to learn how to make cheese (which is pretty cool!)
Definitely an unforgettable experience!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Florent) für Host
Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Svetlana & Burak) für Host
I stayed at here for almost a month (even though I was planning to spend there just a couple of weeks) and I couldn't imagine this experience to be better.
The farm is situated in an extremely beautiful place with a very particular type of nature: quite a dense forest and plain rocky hills. The farm itself is a traditional Apulian stone building
… read more and on the pastures around you can see some old "trullo" and other types of traditional Apulian rural stone architecture which is quite impressive.
The work I did was mostly just helping the shepherd Giuseppe with his everyday works: feeding animals, repairing stone walls, building fences and, actually, herding beautiful Gargano goats. I'm not sure my help was absolutely necessary (there is not so much to do in winter, in other seasons you can also participate in milking goats, making cheese etc.), but for me everything we did was a great experience.
But the main experience was just knowing and communicating with these wonderful people: Rocco (the owner, a research biologist) and Giuseppe (the shepherd) (an important thing to mention is that we were speaking Italian and otherwise I wouldn't have known them so well, cause Giuseppe, as far as I know, doesn't speak much English). Both are incredibly passionate to what they do: Rocco to his project and his research and Giuseppe to herding the goats, and they really transmit their passions so convincingly that I wanted to leave everything and stay at Corte Cicero for the rest of my life herding animals and conducting biological research :)
From Rocco (who is a big scientist and a talented teller) I learned a lot about animals, birds, forest, biodiversity and animal conservation, so it was also a very challenging intellectual experience, not only just regular work on a farm.
Exactly this combination of the very intense traditional farm life (animals, traditional food, rural scenery) and the intellectual motivation of it (the project of wolf conservation and breeding autoctone species in order to preserve the biodiversity of the region) is something that makes this place so special. I'm happy I could contribute at least a little bit to this very inspiring and promising project and acivity.
I could write more and more here about this wonderful place, wonderful project and wonderful people, but you'd better come and see by yourself :)
Grazie ancora a tutti i bei conducenti, mi mancate e spero di venire a trovarvi in un prossimo futuro! Un abbraccio e saluti alle caprette!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Antonella) für Host
La mia esperienza è stata meravigliosa. La vita autentica da masseria, la bellissima Murgia come cornice, gli animali di cui prendersi cura, il pascolo, non dimenticherò mai le giornate tra lavoro e risate e le serate assieme a chiacchierare attorno ad una tavola imbandita con i tipici prodotti del Sud. La sistemazione per i volontari è una
… read more comodissima e nuova foresteria, un grande dormitorio con bagni e cucina. Rifarei con piacere questa esperienza alla stazione Biologica. Lo consiglio a tutti gli appassionati di vita agreste e dell'aria aperta, agli amanti degli animali e a tutte quelle persone rispettose e sensibili ai temi della conservazione di specie autoctone.Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Ludovic) für Host
This month spent here was one of the most beautiful workaway experiences I ever had. I felt at home from the very fisrt day of my stay and was glad to take part in this project of wildlife conservation! Hope to come back soon!
Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
Vom Workawayer (Jonathan) für Host
I stayed at the Biological Station for two weeks in late May to early June of 2017 and had a wonderful time. The station is really an old stone farmhouse in the heart of Alta Murgia National Park where professors and students from the University of Bari conduct research on flora and fauna. I stayed at the farm house and helped with daily life
… read more which included anything from repairing walls to treating animals with medicine. There is a resident shepherd and farmhand named Giuseppe who takes care of all the animals which include dogs, cats, cattle, goats, two types of sheep, chickens, and a horse. In the future, Rocco wants to bring many more workawayers. The guesthouse I stayed in had room for at least a half dozen beds and a machine to make cheese. Some of the cool experiences I had were herding/shearing sheep, picking cherries, and observing hawks in the city of Altamura. Food was delicious and always present for me including nice cheeses and plenty of fruits and bread. If you are looking for an experience in the rural country of Italy and you like animals, this is a great opportunity to see life on a farm and the wild beauty of Alta Murgia National Park. I was treated more like a guest than a worker and I made friends with everyone who came to the farm. Things to be aware of if you are coming include 1) no wifi available at the farm. 2) it is very hot so bring sunscreen and rugged, cool clothes. 3) good boots are a must, my shoes were absolutely destroyed from the jagged rocks. 4) :asterisk_symbol:️most importantly:asterisk_symbol:️ basic knowledge of Italian is important because Rocco and others at the farm don't know much English. I used French to converse with the owner and others. I will always remember my time here for the afternoons spent at pasture with the black Gargano goats and the rich grasses and flowers covering the hills. This is definitely one of the most natural and pleasant workaways you can do in Italy. Thanks to Rocco, Maria, and Giuseppe and all the animals that made my time in Italy one to never forget!Du kannst nur Workawayer mit aktiver Mitgliedschaft kontaktieren.
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