Alessandra
& Luca

Italy
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Travel information
We are currently
At home
Activities we are interested in:
We’re selling our house in Spain, where we’ve been living for the past two years, and we’re leaving the country around mid-March. After a stopover in Italy, we’re heading to Sweden.
Description
Hello there!
I’m Alessandra,43 years old, and together with my husband Luca , who is 52 years old, we decided it was time to add a little adventure to our lives. We’re an Italian couple currently living in Spain, and
we're excited to explore Sweden and experience life there.
Sweden has always fascinated us: the breathtaking landscapes, the deep respect for nature and animals, the balanced lifestyle, and the culture where simplicity and quality truly matter. It feels like a place where we could learn a lot, grow, and feel at home.

Two years ago, we bought a house in Spain after selling our home in Italy and leaving our full-time jobs. At some point we realised that the life we were living just didn’t reflect who we were or who we wanted to become. We wanted something more meaningful: more nature, more time, more breathing space, and more connection with people and with ourselves.

So we decided to change direction. We moved to Spain, close to the Portuguese border.

Here in Spain, we’ve been, among other things, Airbnb hosts and absolutely loved it , especially meeting people from around the world, connecting with them, and making them feel welcome. Hosting reminded us how powerful sharing, kindness, and cultural exchange can be.

Since we both love travelling and started feeling those ‘itchy feet,’ we recently bought a caravan to begin a long journey — and we’re not travelling alone. Our two cats, Arya and Carlitos, are coming with us: Arya is a six-year-old, super fluffy diva who’s convinced she rules the household (and honestly… she kind of does).
Carlitos joined our family about a year ago , he chose us, not the other way around. He used to be a stray , he's around three, and now he’s the biggest cuddle machine we’ve ever met.
TThey’re both well-behaved, but unfortunately they don’t get along well with most other cats. That’s why it would be easier for our potential host if there are no resident cats. We just want to be clear and respectful, to avoid any kind of problem and ensure a peaceful stay for everyone. Dogs are fine, as long as they’re cat-friendly.

We’re hoping to experience Sweden in a meaningful way. We want to help, learn new skills, meet people, and get a real taste of the culture and daily life. We enjoy nature, quiet places and discovering how people live more sustainably and simply.

A BIT about US:
We’re practical, hands-on people who don’t mind getting dirty. Luca has some experience with simple DIY projects, basic repairs, furniture assembly and small plumbing jobs, and we’ve both been involved in renovating our home in Spain, including painting and general improvements. We’re not professionals, but we’re quick learners and we enjoy figuring things out.

Animal lovers.
We both adore animals , we enjoy being around them and we've been volunteering at the cats shelter in our town.

Curious, motivated and active.
We’re interested in learning about gardening, permaculture, self-sufficiency, renovation, and in general anything we don’t yet know. We’re motivated by experiences that challenge us, teach us new skills, and help us grow both as individuals and as a couple.
In our free time, we enjoy staying active, reading, and sharing a strong love for music. Sport is part of our daily routine; Luca has a deep interest in music, ranging from classical to rock and pop. He’s teaching himself how to play the piano and also plays a bit of guitar. I'm really into sports and I am actually following a pilates training to teach it eventually.

Food and culture lovers.
We speak Italian, English and a little Spanish, and we’ve started learning Swedish (slowly, but we’re committed!). I personally love languages and language exchange, so I'll be happy to help with your Italian :). We enjoy cooking and are curious about food from different cultures. For us, discovering local cuisine is an essential part of travelling.We’re very open-minded and definitely not the kind of Italians who only eat Italian food. We really enjoy vegan and vegetarian food.

Why Workaway?
Some years ago, I had a Workaway experience that became one of the best and most, meaningful, enriching experiences of my life. I now feel excited to share this journey with my husband. We’re joining Workaway together because we believe in genuine exchange, where everyone benefits: learning new skills, sharing cultures, creating connections, and building memories. For us, life is about meaningful connections, learning, and experiencing the world fully. The idea of meeting new people, sharing stories, and understanding different ways of life fills us with energy and joy.

If you’re looking for an easy-going, reliable couple and you feel we could be a good match, we’d be happy to hear more about you and your project and see if we can support you in a meaningful way.

Looking forward to meeting you , maybe soon, somewhere in the beautiful Swedish countryside🇸🇪
Interests
Sailing / Boating
Writing
Van life
Yoga / Wellness
Fitness
Cooking & food
DIY & crafts
Culture
Water sports
Vegetarian or vegan
Team sports
Sustainability
Self development
Photography
Nature
Pets
Outdoor activities
Music
Languages
Movies & TV
Hiking
Cycling
Books
Beach
Animals
Adventure sports
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
Swedish: Beginner
More details about my language interests
I speak English quite fluently. My husband is learning it to communicate more confidently, but he understands most things well. We also speak a little Spanish. W’ve both learning Swedish so we would love to keep learning new words and expressions along the way
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn
We're interested in:
Gardening
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Helping around the house
DIY and building projects
House & pet sitting
Some knowledge of:
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Animal Care
Languages
Hospitality/Tourism
Babysitting and creative play
More details about your skills
Luca and I are motivated, down-to-earth people with a growing interest in sustainable living, organic farming, and permaculture. We enjoy hands-on work, spending time outdoors, and learning new skills from people who have experience and are happy to share it.
We don't have previous experience helping on farms, but Luca has some gardening experience and he can already do tasks like trimming hedges, planting, weeding, and general maintenance. I can learn and I would like to ! :)

Luca has done simple DIY projects, basic repairs, furniture assembly and some plumbing. We’ve both done house renovation work, like painting and small improvements, while fixing up our home in Spain.

We're both comfortable with physical work. learners, curious, and open to new techniques.
We can also help with cooking, cleaning, house chores.

We volunteer regularly in a cat shelter, and we're used to feeding, cleaning, handling animals with care. We love animals!

I speak Italian, English, some Spanish and I understand a little German and French and Portuguese, I love languages; Luca can speak Italian, Spanish and a little English. We're both learning Swedish at the moment.

We 're into art, cinema, music. Luca plays a bit of guitar as a self-taught musician, and he’s now teaching himself piano. We enjoy everything from rock and pop to classical music, and we’re always happy to discover new artists or share songs with others.

I’m very sporty and staying active is a big part of my daily routine. Exercise helps me feel energetic, strong and balanced, both mentally and physically.
I’m currently studying Pilates, so I’m really interested in movement, body awareness, posture and functional strength. Both Luca and I leave a healthy and active lifestyle.
Age
43 & 53
What else ...
We’ll be travelling with our caravan and our two furry friends, but if possible we wouldn’t mind having a fixed accommodation. In any case, we’re flexible and happy to adapt, so either option works for us.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  No
- Special dietary requirements
  No

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10 Oct 2016

Left by host (Friendly welcome at our ...) for Workawayer ()

Alessandra arrived with a big smile and a big heart and everyday of her stay always had them. It was fantastic to have Alessandra around, she was so full of enthusiasm for all things English. Alessandra did the jobs to perfection and with great energy and then went exploring Yorkshire charming everyone she met. Alessandra cooked some beautiful… read more

(Excellent )

10 Oct 2016

Left by Workawayer () for host (Friendly welcome at our ...)

It is difficult to put into words the magic of this experience but I’ll try.
It was only yesterday that I had to say goodbye to the family and I already miss them very much! They have the power to get into your heart, they are really special people and I’ve been very lucky to live my first workaway experience with them .
My adventure started on… read more 3rd September and when I arrived in Burnsall it was evening and it was raining. I was tired and a bit stun from the day spent travelling. I was a bit worried too, because It was the first time for me travelling on my own to a foreign country. But since my first chat with Richard in his car, when he kindly came to pick me up at the airport and when i had my first tea with Maurice and Christine as I arrived at their cozy hause I noticed immediately that there was something special in those people , they made me feel comfortable and welcome and I felt better straight away. After the first morning of work any concern I had had was replaced by a feeling of great joy and excitement, thinking of myself completely immerse in the English culture for a month with such lovely people!: a dream that I had always had since I was a teenager.
I enjoyed the daily duties that were easy and never heavy or boring . I was part of a team in a relaxing environment and Richard and any other member of the family were always available to give me clear explanations about the job and they were always kind, smiling and encouraging.
Just a few hours of "work" in the morning and then in the afternoon there was plenty of time to explore the area. And about this place there would be a lot to say! From the first day until the last one I couldn't help feeling astonished by the remarkable beauty of the landscapes! Starting with Burnsall that is a beautiful and picturesque village; the B&B is located close to the river Wharfe that you can see from the window of your cozy room ! In the morning when I woke up I couldn't hear anything else but the river and the bird's tweet! A paradise! I won't never forget the time spent running, strolling by the river or walking for miles, breathing pure air surrounded by beautiful scenaries, overwhelmed by a feeling of freedom and closeness to the unspoilt nature of the Yorkshire Dales. During my free days I visited lots of smashing places ( such as Skipton,Haworth, Ilkley, Saltaire, Pateley Bridge, Leeds...) and I have a nice memories of each of my trips and everywhere I’ve been to I found very friendly and nice people. I must thank Richard for helping me plan my trips, for giving me helpful advice on the places that were worth to visit and for his detailed maps. He and his family, even his lovely sister Wendy, offered me lots of lifts to the places I wanted to visit or they helped me reach them easily. Richard even took me for a ride several times to see with my ( always amazed ) eyes some breath-taking sceneries. I tried to take some pictures of them but none of those photoes gets the real idea of the magnificence and beauty of nature and of the feeling of peace that it can transmit. I visited very pretty and fascinating villages,towns and cities as well … Actually I took more than 1200 pictures! XD yes I found it hard not to use my camera! But As I told Richard, the best pictures are stuck in my mind and above all in my heart <3
But to tell the truth, if the time spent in Burnsall was really special it was thanks to the wonderful people that hosted me! I felt a member of this lovely family since my first days in the B&B. Christine is such a sweet and kind woman !She has always been very thoughtful to me! I loved our chats , we often ended up talking about food and thanks to her I learnt lots of her fantastic recipes and culinary secrets! Oh yes, her cooking was always delicious and her puddings…the best I’ve ever tried! I needed to put on some weight when I arrived and I must say that with Christie it has been literally …”a piece of cake”! XD Maurice is a nice man, full of energy, always active! I had lots of fun with him, above all when I tried to” steal his job”in the kitchen! I still laugh thinking about our fights for doing the washing up ! He is a really nice and witty man, I loved his jokes! Edward is avery good guy, always smiling, always joking and always kind to me  And what about Wendy and her family! I have only nice words for them too! I found it special our Sunday Yorkshire pudding all together and it was very tasty and the apple pie was delicious! No wonder, like mother , like daughter! :D
And last but NOT least Richard , the “boss”! He is a very intelligent and interesting person ; I won’t forget our enjoyable conversations about anything ! He is nice and funny and he has a heart of gold. He helped me a lot with my English! Working with him in the morning was relaxing and enjoyble because he was always kind, he never made me feel as I was really working, I never felt under pressure. He has been the best “boss” anyone could ask for! I ‘ve enjoyed so much the time spent walling at the field and also in the farm, riding the quod bike to check the sheep and finding out a lot about them! I had no Idea that there were so many breeds of sheep and of cows as well! XD I also loved watching documentaries with Richard and of course our Italian lessons! Keep on studying boss that I’m going to ask you some questions next time when you come to visit! Capito? Jokes aside, :D I’m sure this is going to be the start of an everlasting friendship! I will always feel grateful to him for giving me the chance to live this unforgettable experience and to fulfil my dream!And now I know that reality, sometimes, it ‘s even better than imagination!

The family are my English family now, they ‘ll occupy a special place in my heart forever and NOWT won’t change this! I really hope to see them again before too long!

Hey up workawayer from all over the world! It is clear that I really recommend going to Burnsall! :)

(Excellent )