Unleash your creativity at this arthouse and B&B in Italy

1. Can you tell us a little bit more about your B&B arthouse?

I am an artist and writer, running a thriving studio, B&B and arthouse in an Italian medieval quarter. I paint and write, photograph, blog, etc- I have an active Patreon campaign, and am developing a book series. As an artist and writer, I’ve had a colourful career in several countries, as well as being heavily involved in community- and land-transformation: in 2009 I arrived in the abandoned medieval quarter of Guardia Sanframondi and bought a house here for 10,000 euros- then proceeded to bring the place to international attention, inspiring a new international community here.

2. How long have you been involved in Workaway and how did you hear about us?

I was despairing about my workload this spring, when a masterminding friend in Rome recommended you- she’d mentioned Workaway before, but I was a tad concerned that having a volunteer might also mean more work for me! I liked the website a lot though, and saw that there were loads of lovely, shiny people there, who I thought would fit in well with my work schedule… I was amazed that as soon as I got a profile up, I got lots of offers of help, and just a couple of weeks in, I had my very first Workawayer!

3. So how many workawayers have you hosted so far?

I have my third Workawayer with me right now.

4. What does a ‘normal’ day look like for you as a Workaway host?

There is not such a thing as a routine at the arthouse! But we usually make a brief list of tasks for the day over breakfast- then we get on with whatever the priorities are: my helpers usually do basic cleaning tasks, but also head out and about for shopping and specific things related to fixing up my house. There are still a couple of rooms to be fixed up, so the volunteering right now involves some cementing, moving of furniture, etc. We eat lunch together, catch up and make plans for the afternoon and evening… then it’s siesta time. Afternoons, my volunteers usually do their own thing, whilst I’m in my studio and/ or on the computer. In the evenings, depending on how energetic we feel, and what’s happening in the town, we might head out for pizza or a glass of wine, or to see an event. I like to involve both my B&B guests and my visitors/ volunteers in the happy life here!

7. Can you tell us how your B&B has improved since hosting travellers?

Things are running a lot more smoothly, since I started having Workawayers- in particular, I am able to relax a lot more, and to spend more time with my B&B guests, without the weight of a huge workload all on my shoulders. This means I can be much more efficient in my studio also, which as an artist is my core activity.

8. What has been a fond memory while hosting Workawayers?

A fun day was spent at an Italian wedding, with the family of my neighbours – a real old-style traditional family wedding, with all sorts of eccentricities and beautiful sweet memories… We went to the wedding with a couple who were also staying (in the B&B room), and it really was the highlight of the year.

9. Do you think culture exchange programmes like this are changing the way we travel?

Absolutely. I do think that programmes like this are helping and changing the way we travel, and absolutely love how we are all becoming more positively interconnected! I adore how networks like Workaway allow us to find mutually-beneficial relationships, which allow us to thrive creatively and culturally. Of course it saves travellers money, and it also allows them to really get immersed in the lifestyle of another culture, rather than just peering in at it from the outside!