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Join our friendly family home for a language exchange in Martignana, Italy

  • Last activity : 10 Sep 2025

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are a family with three children aged 16, 13, and 9, and a friendly, playful dog named Zoe.
    We live in the Chianti region, among the gentle rolling hills typical of Tuscany. Our home is a large house surrounded by a garden, olive trees, and a small patch of woodland.

    We renovated the house ourselves — with a lot of effort and even more love! Some parts are still a work in progress, but most of it is complete.

    Just a 2-minute walk from our home is the small village of Martignana, where you’ll find all the essentials: grocery store, pharmacy, café, restaurant, hairdresser, and beautician. There’s also a bus stop with connections to Empoli and Montespertoli in about 10 minutes.
    If you like, you can use a bicycle we provide to move around more easily.
    By car, the Empoli train station is just 7–8 minutes away, and Florence can be reached in about half an hour.
    From Empoli, trains run every 15 minutes and take less than 30 minutes to reach the heart of Florence. Empoli itself is a small but fully equipped city with everything you might need.

    Giampiero (46) is a blacksmith and works with iron. He works from home and is usually around if you need anything.
    Vera (44) teaches cello and works as a music therapist.
    Clara (9) is a sweet and calm little girl — curious, sociable, and loves being around people.
    Riccardo (13) is just entering his teenage years. He’s passionate about basketball, curious, and responsible (at least, as much as a 13-year-old can be!).
    Irene, 16 years old, is currently in Costa Rica for a semester abroad. She’s a lovely young woman with many great qualities — calm, curious, and full of interests. Irene speaks German, English, and Spanish.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Language practice
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
  • Interests

    Interests

    Drawing & painting
    Art & design
    Cycling
    Politics / Social justice
    Sustainability
    Pets
    Culture
    Self development
    Books
    History
    Music
    Plant care
    Languages
    Gardening
    Cooking & food
    Architecture
    Writing
    Carpentry
    Animals
    Yoga / Wellness
    Team sports
    Nature
    Camping
    Mountain
    Beach
    Outdoor activities
    Hiking
    Adventure sports
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Our family is happy to welcome guests and share the knowledge and skills we have.
    Ours is an open home, where friends and visitors are often around. If you're curious, Giampiero will be glad to reveal the ancient secrets of wrought iron work, and Vera is always happy to share her musical knowledge.

    Grandma Vittoria, who is very much part of our household, is a fantastic cook. She teaches traditional Italian cuisine to foreigners — a great opportunity to learn how to make fresh handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, desserts, lasagna, preserves, bread and more. Grandpa Sandro is passionate about cycling, and you’re welcome to join him in exploring the Chianti region on two wheels!

    In autumn, you can take part in the olive harvest and oil pressing — a true delicacy and cornerstone of Italian cooking.
    With a little patience and independence, it's easy to reach the center of Florence, Siena, the seaside, or even the mountains.

    We are looking for someone friendly and open-minded, who is happy to share their own culture and traditions.
    Someone willing to become part of our family with a positive attitude and a spirit of exchange.
    Our hope is that our children can learn English and grow through the experience of getting to know a new person — building both knowledge and friendship along the way.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    We are looking for help with daily household tasks — cooking, keeping the house and vegetable garden tidy — but most importantly, we would love someone who can spend time with our kids, speaking to them in English: playing together or accompanying them to their sports activities.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Spanish: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent
    English: Intermediate
    German: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    We would love for our whole family to improve our English. We’re all at different levels, but very motivated to learn and practice! Spanish and German are spoken only by Irene.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We will provide a private and cozy 16 m² bedroom with a double bed, a large wardrobe, and a desk.
    A bathroom next to the room will be for your use, although in particular situations (such as the presence of other passing guests), it might occasionally need to be shared.

    In case we are hosting a family, we will offer an entire apartment consisting of a bedroom, bathroom, and a large living area with a kitchen, sofa, fireplace, TV, and an outdoor space equipped for dining.

    The house has four bathrooms (three with showers and one with a bathtub; one bathroom is accessible for people in wheelchairs), one bedroom for each family member, and a spacious, very bright living room with a TV, terrace, large sofa, and fireplace.
    There are also two dining rooms, two kitchens, and a terrace used as a laundry area.

    We also have a woodworking space, in addition to Giampiero’s blacksmith workshop.
    All around the house, there’s a large lawn and many trees.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    In your free time, you can relax in one of the many hammocks hanging between the trees, or take a walk and explore the various trails that wind through the countryside around our home.
    Empoli offers all the comforts of a small city: gyms, cinemas, pubs and restaurants, all kinds of courses, shops, and more.
    If you love to travel, you can easily reach some of the most iconic places in Tuscany, whether by public transport or by car.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    The outdoor space can comfortably accommodate a camper, offering both shade and sun, as well as the possibility to set up an outdoor area. Access to the house bathroom and drinking water is easy and fully available!

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Our dog gets along very well with other dogs, both male and female, but unfortunately, she tends to chase cats.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    Profile photo of Zoe

    Zoe (4 years)

Host ref number: 672833147916

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Photos

A white house with a brown roof sits among tall trees in the countryside, with rolling hills and soft sunset light creating a peaceful, scenic view.
A person stands at the edge of a scenic overlook, gazing at rolling green hills, forests, and a clear blue sky, embracing nature’s beauty.
A vast, clear blue sky overlooks rolling hills covered in dense green forest. In the distance, a snow-capped mountain rises majestically, completing the serene landscape.
A two-story cream house stands under a clear blue sky, surrounded by trees. A person and a dog enjoy the sunshine on the gravel driveway.
The image shows a serene sunset over rolling hills, with the sun just above the horizon. Green vineyard fields and silhouetted trees frame the peaceful landscape.
A two-story white house with brown shutters sits beside large green trees under a clear blue sky, with outdoor tables and chairs on a sunny day.
A family of five poses happily on a rocky mountain peak under a clear blue sky, beside a wooden cross and sign, surrounded by stunning scenery.
This bathroom has turquoise walls, a wooden countertop with a vessel sink, large window, hanging plants, mosaic mirror, modern fixtures, hexagonal tiles, and decorative chandelier. Cozy atmosphere.

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