Help on my creative project while exploring Balata di Baida, Italy

Details

• 

  Description

  More than 30 years ago, a few time after the birth of my daughters, I bought an old traditional house in western Sicily, in the neighborouds of Scopello (Castellammare del Golfo, TP). I named it as a tribute to the catalan architect Antoni Gaudì (and to the local geological structure). After some years, and after some works of reconstruction of it, I modified the name as for the fantastic realizations made there by a great man who helped me for the restoration works ("mastro Pitrino") . My daughters and their mother have ever considered this house a true part of their life, so they ever spend some time to maintain the house in the best functionnality. In our opinion this is an interesting witness of the ancient relationship between rural activities and local landscape. His care is very important now, specially for the intrusive presence of the new local houses wich don't respect often the aesthetical and constructive traditions.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  As an example of the great local possibilities to grow the personal cultural knowledge, I only remember that within an hour drive from the place, you can find:
  - The Natural Reserve of Zingaro
  - Baths of Segesta
  - Archaeological area of Segesta
  - City and port of Castellammare del Golfo (here depart several boats to the Egadi islands, and several sea tours to the Natural Reserve of the Zingaro; there are also diving centers and boat rental services)
  - Castellammare Jazz Festival
  - City of Alcamo, Summertime Blues festival
  - City of Trapani
  - City of Erice
  - City of San Vito lo Capo, with the inter-mediterranean “Cous-cous Fest”:
  - City of Marsala, Archaeological area of Island of Mozia, Archaeological Museum of Baglio Anselmi.
  Within two hours drive from the place you'll find inter alia:
  - Archaeological area of Selinunte
  - City of Mazara del Vallo
  - City of Sciacca, Terme di Sciacca

• 

  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

  Host has indicated that they will pay at least the minimum hourly wage of their country for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.

• 

  Help

  The people interested about the “west-sicilian way of life”, specially of the rural areas there existing, can find a perfect opportunity living in my place. The site is very quiet, rounded by hundred of hectars of the traditional local coltivations (corn, olives, vinery) with some important Natural Protected Areas and other important archaeological areas. So the maintenance of the house take part of the general maintenance of this part of Trapani’s county (spec. Castellammare del Golfo). It not requests heavy tasks, but a good manuality and a very good (creative) capacity to solve simple practical problems, in collaboration with me and with the local people. Is very important to know the main uses of the wood and of the other typical materials of the traditional contructions.

• 

  Languages

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

  This host offers a language exchange
  I love to learn a lot of languages & cultures of our world, to help also in this way to better enhance the understanding between the different existing peoples and knowledges.
• 

  Accommodation

  The interior of the house is developed on two floors. The ground floor opens with a big space very tall, which is a dining room with kitchen. This room leads to a small space from which one can go to the bathroom, to the small bedroom and to a little storage room. To get to the master bedroom upstairs there is a stair placed in the first room mentioned. The house is well furnished, simply and functionally to make it very cozy; the furnitures allow to live comfortably in the old sicilian style. Perhaps it’s superfluous to mention the great Sicilian culinary tradition, which is best expressed in the west of the island and especially in this Trapani area.
  
  We will offer to workawayers the accommodation plus a monetary payment which EQUALS the minimum wage in my country, for each hour worked. Helpers to be (totally) responsible for their own food expenses

• 

  What else ...

  Let's not forget the interesting environmental and cultural destinations you can find just close to the place:
  - Horse's riding-ground beside the Castle of Baida
  - Mini-golf club in the Grotticelli district
  - Pizzeria of Baglio Stabile very close to the Castle of Baida
  - Castle of Baida
  - Shopping area of Scopello village / Shopping area of Scopello district
  - Watering place in Sarcuna district (with drinkable water)
  - Scopello village (pizzerias, restaurants, bar, bakeries, watering place with drinkable water)
  - Tonnara of Scopello
  - Beach of Guidaloca, equipped beach
  - Beach of Mazzo di Sciacca bay
  - Beach of Cala Rossa bay
  - Beach of Cala Bianca bay
  - The Natural Reserve "Lo Zingaro"
  - Little rural village of Visicari
  
  But is also possible to take the public transports (buses or trains) coming from Palermo or Trapani. Obviously, you'll give best informations after a positive contact with us also "by remote"... !!

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

• 

  Hours expected

  Maximum 4 hours a day, 5 days a week