Stay at our villa with two artists and a furry friend while discovering Corato, Italy

Details

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  Description

  My name is Massimo, I’m Italian-American and I live in Puglia, southern Italy, near the town of Corato. I work as a flight attendant and actor, so my life has taken me between Italy and the United States for many years.
  
  My home in the beautiful Puglian countryside, surrounded by olive trees and nature. It’s a peaceful place where we enjoy a slower pace of life, good food, sunshine and being outdoors. The area is also a great base for exploring Puglia, with beautiful towns, beaches, countryside and plenty of history and culture nearby.
  
  I live here with my partner, Storm, who is Scottish, and our dog Jack. Jack is a very friendly and affectionate dog and is definitely part of the family.
  
  We would love to welcome someone into our home who is respectful, independent, friendly and enjoys experiencing a different culture and way of life. We are particularly interested in meeting people who enjoy being outdoors and don’t mind helping with projects around the property.
  
  For us, Workaway is about cultural exchange, sharing our home and everyday life, and giving someone the opportunity to experience authentic Puglia rather than simply visiting as a tourist.
  
  This exchange is a private project and workwayers won’t be asked to us to any kind of profitable activities

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Animal Care

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Farming

  

  Charity work

  

  Self development

  

  Pets

  

  Events & social

  

  LGBTQ

  

  Fashion or beauty

  

  Culture

  

  Languages

  

  Photography

  

  Writing

  

  Performing arts

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Gardening

  

  Art & design

  

  Books

  

  Animals

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Fitness

  

  Beach

  

  Cycling
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Staying at our Villa is an opportunity to experience authentic life in Puglia and learn about Italian culture, food and the local way of life. We enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and sharing our experiences with them.
  
  We can introduce our Workawayer to the local area, including nearby towns, markets, beaches, restaurants and places of cultural and historical interest. Puglia has a lot to offer, from beautiful countryside and olive groves to traditional food, local festivals and the many historic towns throughout the region.
  
  As an Italian-American and someone who has lived in both Italy and the United States, I can share perspectives on both cultures, while my partner Storm is Scottish, so there is also an interesting international mix within our home.
  
  We enjoy cooking, sharing meals and introducing people to local Italian food and traditions. We are happy to help our Workawayer discover the area and, when possible, introduce them to friends, local life and activities happening in the community.
  
  We hope the experience will be a genuine cultural exchange: while helping us care for Villa, you will have the opportunity to experience everyday life in Puglia, learn about Italian culture and hopefully leave with some great memories and a better understanding of this part of Italy.

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  Help

  We are looking for someone who enjoys practical outdoor work and would like to help us take care of the property and garden. Tasks will mainly include gardening and general maintenance, such as cutting the grass, pruning trees and olive trees, clearing and maintaining outdoor areas, and helping with seasonal garden work.
  
  There will also be some painting and maintenance projects, such as painting the gates and fences and, occasionally, helping to paint or refresh rooms inside the house.
  
  We may also occasionally need some pet sitting for our dog, Jack, particularly when we are away for short periods. This would mainly involve feeding him, spending some time with him and making sure he is comfortable and cared for.
  
  We also have a bicycle and a Vespa available for you to use during your stay. You are more than welcome to use the bicycle, and we would also be comfortable allowing you to use the Vespa for short local journeys, provided you have the appropriate licence and experience to ride it safely.
  
  We are looking for someone who is reasonably fit, practical, responsible and not afraid of getting their hands dirty. Previous gardening, DIY or painting experience would be helpful, but a willingness to learn and work carefully is more important.
  
  The tasks will vary depending on the season and what needs attention around Villa. We want the experience to feel like a genuine exchange, with a reasonable amount of help in return for accommodation and the opportunity to experience life in Puglia.

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  Languages spoken

  Italian: Fluent
  Spanish: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Our Workawayer will stay in the upstairs en-suite bedroom of our home, featuring a comfortable queen-size bed, a private bathroom and a private patio/terrace. The room also has a TV and Wi-Fi. It is a comfortable and quiet space within our home, offering plenty of privacy while still being part of the household and welcome to use the shared areas.
  
  Our Villa is surrounded by olive trees and countryside, with plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. We also have a bicycle available, and we would be comfortable allowing the Workawayer to use our Vespa for short local journeys, provided they have the appropriate licence and experience.
  
  We are happy to share meals and introduce our Workawayer to Italian and Puglian food, culture and local life. Our aim is to make them feel welcome and comfortable while also giving them their own space and independence.

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  What else ...

  Our Villa is located in the peaceful Puglian countryside, surrounded by olive trees and nature. Because we are in a rural area, having some independence and being comfortable with countryside life is important.
  
  During your free time, we would be more than happy to drive you to the nearest train or bus station, making it easy for you to explore Puglia on your own. From there, you can discover places such as Bari, Lecce, Taranto, Polignano a Mare and the beautiful Valle d’Itria, as well as many of the smaller towns and coastal areas in the region.
  
  We are happy to share our local knowledge and recommend places to visit, restaurants, beaches and things to do during your time off.
  
  We want you to feel at home at Villa while also having the freedom to explore and experience everything that Puglia has to offer.
  
  Although we hold no judgement towards certain lifestyles and choices, we have zero tolerance for drug use, heavy alcohol consumption, therefore that will not be a match for those who lead that lifestyle.
  NO smokers please

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  Digital nomads Our villa can also be a great place for digital nomads looking for a peaceful environment away from the city. The upstairs en-suite bedroom has Wi-Fi, a TV and a private patio where you can relax or work outdoors. The countryside surroundings provide a quiet atmosphere, while nearby towns and transport connections make it possible to explore Puglia during your free time. We are happy to welcome people who work remotely, provided they have enough free time to participate in the agreed Workaway activities. As the purpose of the exchange is to help with the property and experience life here, we would not be the best fit for someone whose work schedule leaves very little time for the practical tasks involved.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We do not have dedicated facilities or hookups for campers or motorhomes, but we have a large garage and plenty of space at the back of the property where a camper or motorhome can be parked, as long as it does not obstruct access or interfere with the normal use of the property. Please note that Villa is located in a rural area, and some of the surrounding roads are quite narrow and can be difficult to navigate with very large campers or motorhomes. If you are travelling with a particularly large vehicle, we recommend checking the dimensions and access routes before arriving. There are no specific camper facilities available, so guests travelling by camper or motorhome would need to be completely self-sufficient. The main Workaway accommodation we offer is the upstairs en-suite bedroom within our home, with a queen-size bed, private bathroom, private patio, TV and Wi-Fi.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Jack (12 years)

  jack is a rescued dog and we have had him since he was about 1 year old. He’s super affectionate and still very hyper….he loves attention but also is very independent. He’s always hungry and ready for walks and cuddles!

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