Come and stay in Sardinia countryside, Italy
The experience
Ciao! My name is Gianluca, and I am renovating a "stazzu," a typical country villa, in the northern part of Sardinia, in one of the most beautiful and sought-after holiday areas of the region, just 10 minutes by car from the sea (it’s 6 km on foot with some elevation changes). I’m working on this project to bring life back to a special place, while also creating a beautiful and welcoming space. Please check address: STRADA SU DONNIGHEDDU.
What you offer
25 hours of help per week
Farming:
Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.
Painting & Decorating:
Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Building & Repairing:
Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
Gardening:
Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
What you get
2 days off per week
Private Room:
You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Shared Dorm:
You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Breakfast:
You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch:
You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner:
You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Free Laundry:
You can use our laundry room freely.
Free Tours:
We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!
Free Hiking Tours:
We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!
Language lessons:
Take free language classes at our place.
Requirements
Fluent Italian or Intermediate English
Between 18 and 80 years old
Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)
What's not included
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Program Details
Before submitting your application, it is very important that you carefully read all the details of my profile. For me, it’s important that the experience is pleasant, and that a nice atmosphere of friendship and collaboration is created in the house. Therefore, I’d like you to set the right expectations...
The independent house is in a beautiful location, surrounded by a small portion of pristine land, with a view of barren countryside and a glimpse of the sea in the distance. It’s newly built but has never been furnished or inhabited for several years. I am bringing in essential furniture in the next few days (beds, small wardrobes, and a refrigerator), and most likely by June and July, the kitchen will be equipped with a table and camping stoves, so expect a "basic and Spartan" accommodation. There is a nice barbecue area that needs cleaning, which could become a great spot to share meals together.
I am someone who enjoys doing things with others, and I would love to practice and improve my English, but also to have tangible, active, and possibly skilled help with the renovation of the house and the maintenance of the surrounding land. My goal is to transform the immediate area around the house into a pleasant, well-kept garden that requires little water, primarily by planting succulents or shrubs.
It’s important to read the entire profile before sending any request for a stay. I would like to know about you and what tasks you feel most comfortable with from those I’ve described, and if you have any prior experience in this regard.
I receive many messages, so I need to have this information.
Activities & Shift
I’m looking for practical and eager individuals with experience in various renovation activities.
The house I’m renovating is a country villa in one of the most expensive and sought-after holiday areas in Sardinia.
I need help with various maintenance and house improvement tasks, including:
- Assisting in designing the garden by creating flowerbeds and relaxation areas.
- Gardening: The land around the house is very large, and I need someone to cut tall grass, remove weeds, plant new vegetation, and move heavy materials like stones or dirt.
- Painting the walls of the house and the internal ceiling beams: For this task, I need someone who is already familiar with applying paint evenly, especially when using ladders or other tools.
- Sanding and painting wooden shutters and window frames with protective varnish: This requires someone who is experienced with wood DIY tasks.
- Sanding shutters and window frames: It's important to know how to use electric tools with experience.
- Deep cleaning the house: This task requires physical strength to lift weights and move work equipment.
- Repairing and maintaining the pergolas in the garden.
- Assistance with various plumbing tasks.
- Assistance with masonry work, as I would like to build a brick kitchen.
I offer simple but welcoming accommodation inside the house where I am working. Volunteers stay in a private room or share a room with another workawayer, depending on the period and the number of guests present.
The bedroom is unfurnished, but furnishing the house is scheduled for July and August. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag to sleep.
The bathroom is shared, clean, and functional.
At the moment, there is no Wi-Fi, but it is possible to connect with your own mobile phone.
Rules
I’m looking for someone with physical strength and a desire to work for 5 hours a day. I’m looking for people who are fast and not afraid to get their hands dirty. It’s important to know that if you work in the garden, you might come into contact with wild boars!
The house has a functional bathroom. However, the kitchen is not yet installed but will be by September, so during the summer months, there will be a camping kitchen with a single stove. There will be no oven or dishwasher.
The bedrooms currently lack furniture. The house will be furnished soon, but you will need to bring your sleeping bag to sleep on the floor.
I offer:
- The house is large, so there is a private room with a shared bathroom.
- Meals are shared. I will take care of grocery shopping and cooking with you.
- Sea, relaxation, and nature are just 5 minutes by car from the beach.
- An opportunity to learn (or teach!) something about the local language and cuisine.
- Food, both meat and fish-based.
- Good times spent together.
The atmosphere is that of a lived-in, rustic, and real house.
Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are shared. I will do the shopping, and we will cook together. There will always be the possibility of snacks throughout the day.
There is no public transport that can take you to the beach, so if you want independence in movement, you will need your own vehicle (car, motorcycle, camper, or bicycle).
I can pick you up and drop you off at the airport, and when I have time, I will dedicate part of my free time to take you to visit places (you can join me when I drive to the city or the beach). We can arrange some transportation together, but if you want full independence, you will need your own means of transport.