Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
1 Sep 2025
Reply rate
94.7 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
27
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hello everyone!!!
We are located in a forest in the northern region of Umbria, 8 km (15 mins drive) from the town of Pietralunga. The land includes 23 hectares of woods, fields and small streams, at an altitude of 650m. Nature is all around the house, it is easy to meet many wild animals and there are beautiful walks to do.
My name is Antonella, I am 65 years old. I have lived in this house since 1988. With my ex-husband we decided to raise our two children in a natural environment, growing some of our own food in the garden and fields. I am a vegetarian and vegan cook with more than 30 years of experience. But I am not vegan and vegetarian, I don't eat meat but I do eat fish sometimes. I am qualified as an educator, and passionate about sailing, crafts, gardening and farming. All my interests and activities are linked by the common thread of education, pedagogy and art.
We have always hosted friends, travelers from around the world and people in need for short and long periods, engaging in a mechanism of exchange and mutual aid. I live alone in the house, and I have friends and family who stay with me for different durations. Our home has always been open and welcoming to people and new cultures.
I do not accept guests who are looking to stay here for the purpose of obtaining Italian citizenship.
Ciao a tutti!!!
Ci troviamo in una foresta nella regione settentrionale dell’Umbria, a 8 km dal paese di Pietralunga. Il terreno comprende 23 ettari di boschi, campi e piccoli ruscelli, a un’altitudine di 650 m. La natura circonda la casa, è facile incontrare molti animali selvatici e ci sono splendide passeggiate da fare.
Mi chiamo Antonella, ho 65 anni. Vivo in questa casa dal 1988. Con il mio ex marito abbiamo deciso di crescere i nostri due figli in un ambiente naturale, coltivando parte del nostro cibo nell’orto e nei campi. Sono una cuoca vegetariana e vegana con più di 30 anni di esperienza. Ma non sono completamente vegana o vegetariana: non mangio carne ma a volte mangio pesce. Sono qualificata come educatrice, e sono appassionata di vela, artigianato, giardinaggio e agricoltura. Tutti i miei interessi e attività sono legati dal filo conduttore dell’educazione, della pedagogia e dell’arte.
Abbiamo sempre ospitato amici, viaggiatori da tutto il mondo e persone in difficoltà, per periodi brevi o lunghi, partecipando a un meccanismo di scambio e di mutuo aiuto. Vivo da sola in casa, ma ho amici e familiari che restano con me per periodi diversi. La nostra casa è sempre stata aperta e accogliente verso le persone e le nuove culture.
Non accetto ospiti che intendono soggiornare qui per ottenere la cittadinanza italiana.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
House sitting
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We can speak some English and some Spanish, and if you are interested we can teach you Italian!
We can teach how to: cultivate a vegetable garden, orient yourself in a forest, make homemade preserves like jams, tomato sauce, etc, make pizza, homemade pasta, desserts and the basics of vegan and vegetarian cuisine.
You will also get exposure to local Italian lifestyle and culture, and learn about how people live in Umbria.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Constructions, with housework, gardening, rainwater collection and everything related to outdoor work.
Languages spoken
Spanish: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
English: Intermediate
Accommodation
In the main house there is a pantry where we keep fresh food which guests have free access. We eat together in the main house and we don't eat meat.
In the main house there are two fully private rooms and one semi private room which is a laboratory where I work sometimes. The main house has two bathrooms on two different floors. I can accomodate around 4 people in the main house.
There is casetta (smaller house) behind the main house. The casetta is composed of an attic with a bedroom and a terrace which can accomodate 2 - 3 people. The casetta doesn't have a functioning bathroom and bathrooms are only in the main house.
I also have a tent and air mattresses in case I have to host multiple workaways for bigger projects.
What else ...
Please note that mobile phone reception is not available at the property. We do provide free Wi-Fi for all guests, but the connection is limited and slow, so we kindly ask for your patience when using it.
The property is 15 mins drive from the nearest town - Pietralung, around 40 mins drive to Gubbio, Citta di Castello and Umbertide, 1 hr to Perugia, Assisi. There's also a river about 30 mins from the property where you can bathe and have a picnic.
If you plan on exploring a lot, you will need a car. If you don’t have a car, I may be able to give you a ride to these towns, depending on my schedule and grocery shopping trips.
I do not accept guests who are looking to stay here for the purpose of obtaining Italian citizenship.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
I have one dog in the house and a lot of cats roaming around the house. If your pets can get along with these animals, they are welcome. I do not allow pets in the rooms.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Hiro
Tuti' (2 years)
She is very beautiful and lives a little in the house
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (12)
We stayed for two weeks, and even though it’s been a while since we left, we still often think back to the peace of the forest, the beautiful house, the shared meals, the meaningful work, and the conversations that stayed with us.
Antonella made us feel so welcome… read more
I stayed ca. 3 weeks and in the end I was very sad to leave this lovely place in the woods.
From authentic self-cooked food to learning and playing italian card games to experiencing the forest and nature (rivers! the forest! small medieval… read more
Thank you Berit come back soon
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
We stayed for two weeks, and even though it’s been a while since we left, we still often think back to the peace of the forest, the beautiful house, the shared meals, the meaningful work, and the conversations that stayed with us.
Antonella made us feel so welcome… read more
I stayed ca. 3 weeks and in the end I was very sad to leave this lovely place in the woods.
From authentic self-cooked food to learning and playing italian card games to experiencing the forest and nature (rivers! the forest! small medieval… read more
Thank you Berit come back soon
She was very welcoming and kind from the first moment we met. We had a very lovely room in her wonderful orange house in the mountains which we always felt like home.… read more
Thank you Milan
Thank you
A big hug surrounding all four of you
Antonella
thank you Daniela and Johannes
The meals… read more
Grazie per aver aperto la porta del vostro cuore e di quello della vostra famiglia. Ricordo sempre la vostra casa come una seconda famiglia, sono stati solo tre mesi, sufficienti per scambiare momenti indimenticabili e per affezionarmi a voi.
Grazie per… read more
Grazie Estefany
GRAZIE RITA
It has been very nice to meet Rita. She is a very solar, positive,happy person, always ready to help and open to new experiences. I… read more
It has been very nice to have him around, he helpd us with lots of different jobs in the house and in the outdoor spaces. I hope we could have him with us again! Absolutely raccomended to evrybody
Ho riso davvero tanto alla sua lezione di yoga della risata, abbiamo trascorso diversi dopocena giocando a… read more
Grazie Greta!!
