Volunteering work in Italy
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Umbria |
| departures: | 2008: 20 Sep, 27 Sep, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov |
| price: | From £370 (12 days) - £570 (8 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Biodiversity survey and mapping. From £570 (8 days) ex flights.
What better way to get to know somewhere than to assist the experts with a full biodiversity survey. Help with flora and fauna identification, spotting and mapping on this one-off special project that contributes to our ongoing work on the restoration of a unique historic landscape. This is the perfect holiday for the budding botanist, ecologist, or indeed anyone who fancies a touch of comfort and some gentle work in stunning hilltop surroundings.
Who we're working with: The association Matilde Pianciani is a small (NGO) cultural association founded by the new generation of family owners to care of the large historical complex of this stunning Italian villa, the annex and the surrounding park. Much of the work in the parklands has been carried out in collaboration with us but the complexity and the extent of the project demands a lot of care to research and restore it to its original state.
Where we're working: A few kilometres from the town of Spoleto, this beautiful villa and park is nestled amongst olive groves atop a small hill, affording spectacular views of the rolling Umbrian countryside. An Italian national monument built as a summer residence for Count Alessandro Pianciani in the late 18th century, the Villa Pianciani Delizia is as delightful as its name. 1hr 30min from Rome and 2hrs from Florence. Umbria is one of the few landlocked Italian regions, sometimes referred to as 'Italy's Green Heart'. Dotted with splendid medieval hill towns this region gives you a chance to flee the crowds and escape to the isolated valleys and mountains.
What we'll be doing: We'll be assisting with a field survey of the vegetation and fauna found within the extensive traditional landscape of the Villa Pianciani estate. This survey will involve direct and guided observations, identification of bird calls and songs, mammal tracks and signs, investigation of bat refuges, and collection and identification of plant species. No experience is necessary as guidance will be provided. We'll be working with Italian naturalist Dr Mauro Magrini and zoologist Dr Carla Gambaro of the who are engaged in a broad survey of the traditional landscapes of the area.
Mountains and Museums. From £370 (12 days) ex flights. 2008: 21 Jun.
A rural Italian idyll, Alpago is a small friendly community at the foot of the Dolomites, set in some of Europe's finest scenery. This holiday takes us to the heart of this community, and you'll feel it from the first enthusiastic welcome to the last sad farewell.
Who we're working with: Alpago Natural History Museum Association. Already a great success story, in 2006 the association agreed to adopt the extended remit of practical conservation initiatives following the success of previous holidays in the area. We are continuing to work towards developing the organisation and promoting projects beyond these fantastic holidays and each holiday we've run has helped to increase local awareness and enthusiasm for conservation.
Where we're working: Beyond Venice, in the foothills of the Dolomites, the Veneto region conceals many secrets. Huge beech woods dominate the plateau of the Cansiglio area, first managed centuries ago to provide oars for the Venetian Republic. Belluno, the "Shining City" nestles amongst beautiful mountains. Scattered villages blend into the countryside of Alpago. Hawks and eagles soar above and marmots, chamois and red deer populate the alpine meadows and valleys below. The region boasts lands stretching from the mountains to the sea, with unique natural and architectural features famous worldwide for their beauty. It is the ceaseless work of nature, both powerful and delicate that the lands have to thank. From the same waters that even today bathe the coasts of the Veneto, hundreds of millions of years ago an incredible force lifted up the huge layers of deposits and coral reefs from the sea bed up to the sky. Thus today we can walk through the majestic pinnacles and dense forests of conifers and broadleaf.
What we'll be doing: Since starting to work in this community in 2004 we've been implementing a programme of landscape feature restoration, improving access to these historic features for visitors and promoting the use of traditional skills. This year we'll mainly be focusing our efforts on the restoration of a set of historical foot trails and possibly starting on the restoration of traditional dry-stone walls - this is subject to local funding and will be confirmed nearer the time. Our projects in the past have generated a lot of local interest and volunteers and local students are very keen to join us. There's always an atmosphere of fun as we work together sharing languages, lunches and loppers.
Neoclassical Conservation. From £510 (8 days) ex flights. 2008: 20 Sep, 27 Sep.
This a perennial favourite, and has been the core of our work at Villa Pianciani. The villa's restoration continues apace, and on these projects we'll be working in the original designed garden areas immediately surrounding. Set in the Umbrian hills, surrounded by picturesque olive groves, this holiday is perfect for lovers of the rural idyll and conservation holidays with that extra bit of comfort.
Who we're working with: The association Matilde Pianciani is a small (NGO) cultural association founded by the new generation of family owners to care of the large historical complex of this stunning Italian villa, the annex and the surrounding park. Much of the work in the parklands has been carried out in collaboration with us but the complexity and the extent of the project demands a lot of care to research and restore it to its original state.
Where we're working: A few kilometres from the town of Spoleto, this beautiful villa and park is nestled amongst olive groves atop a small hill, affording spectacular views of the rolling Umbrian countryside. An Italian national monument built as a summer residence for Count Alessandro Pianciani in the late 18th century, the Villa Pianciani Delizia is as delightful as its name. 1hr 30min from Rome and 2hrs from Florence. Umbria is one of the few landlocked Italian regions, sometimes referred to as 'Italy's Green Heart'. Dotted with splendid medieval hill towns this region gives you a chance to flee the crowds and escape to the isolated valleys and mountains.
What we'll be doing: We'll be working on a variety of jobs: over the past few years we’ve assist with the restoration of the landscaped grounds, including ornate steps and an amazing mosaic. We also have moved into the 'secret garden' where we've been working alongside local specialists on the restoration of two sections of wall. This year we'll be including restoration and repositioning of the ancient iron gates of the garden and we’ll start to restore the park’s original path as envisaged in the late 18th century by the neoclassic architect Giuseppe Valadier.
Olive Harvest. From £375 (8 days) ex flights. 2008: 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov.
Something a bit different! Join us and our Italian friends for the traditional olive harvest - the end of this year's work at the villa and the perfect holiday for anyone looking for a touch of comfort in the stunning hilltop surroundings of Umbria. And for lovers of real Italian food, we're looking forward to the last night's supper, and bringing home enough of our own cold-pressed organic olive oil to last until next year.
Who we're working with: The association Matilde Pianciani is a small (NGO) cultural association founded by the new generation of family owners to care of the large historical complex of this stunning Italian villa, the annex and the surrounding park. Much of the work in the parklands has been carried out in collaboration with us but the complexity and the extent of the project demands a lot of care to research and restore it to its original state.
Where we're working: A few kilometres from the town of Spoleto, this beautiful villa and park is nestled amongst olive groves atop a small hill, affording spectacular views of the rolling Umbrian countryside. An Italian national monument built as a summer residence for Count Alessandro Pianciani in the late 18th century, the Villa Pianciani Delizia is as delightful as its name. 1hr 30min from Rome and 2hrs from Florence. Umbria is one of the few landlocked Italian regions, sometimes referred to as 'Italy's Green Heart'. Dotted with splendid medieval hill towns this region gives you a chance to flee the crowds and escape to the isolated valleys and mountains.
What we'll be doing: Over the past few years we have been working to assist with the restoration of the landscaped grounds of the villa. As the year comes to a close, we'll take our serious hats off and join our friends at Villa Pianciani to help with the olive harvest. All done in the traditional way - with stick and sheets and glorious coloured ladders, this is a fun sociable project in the finest surroundings. It's not all frivolous though - the olive groves that surround the villa represent an important and charcteristic part of the landscape. The organic groves, unimproved over the years, are not commercially viable and without these projects, wouldn't get the maintenance and use they need to survive. As well as picking and pruning, we'll be able to watch the processing of the olives and bring home enough cold-pressed organic olive oil to last us until next year.
What better way to get to know somewhere than to assist the experts with a full biodiversity survey. Help with flora and fauna identification, spotting and mapping on this one-off special project that contributes to our ongoing work on the restoration of a unique historic landscape. This is the perfect holiday for the budding botanist, ecologist, or indeed anyone who fancies a touch of comfort and some gentle work in stunning hilltop surroundings.
Who we're working with: The association Matilde Pianciani is a small (NGO) cultural association founded by the new generation of family owners to care of the large historical complex of this stunning Italian villa, the annex and the surrounding park. Much of the work in the parklands has been carried out in collaboration with us but the complexity and the extent of the project demands a lot of care to research and restore it to its original state.
Where we're working: A few kilometres from the town of Spoleto, this beautiful villa and park is nestled amongst olive groves atop a small hill, affording spectacular views of the rolling Umbrian countryside. An Italian national monument built as a summer residence for Count Alessandro Pianciani in the late 18th century, the Villa Pianciani Delizia is as delightful as its name. 1hr 30min from Rome and 2hrs from Florence. Umbria is one of the few landlocked Italian regions, sometimes referred to as 'Italy's Green Heart'. Dotted with splendid medieval hill towns this region gives you a chance to flee the crowds and escape to the isolated valleys and mountains.
What we'll be doing: We'll be assisting with a field survey of the vegetation and fauna found within the extensive traditional landscape of the Villa Pianciani estate. This survey will involve direct and guided observations, identification of bird calls and songs, mammal tracks and signs, investigation of bat refuges, and collection and identification of plant species. No experience is necessary as guidance will be provided. We'll be working with Italian naturalist Dr Mauro Magrini and zoologist Dr Carla Gambaro of the who are engaged in a broad survey of the traditional landscapes of the area.
Mountains and Museums. From £370 (12 days) ex flights. 2008: 21 Jun.
A rural Italian idyll, Alpago is a small friendly community at the foot of the Dolomites, set in some of Europe's finest scenery. This holiday takes us to the heart of this community, and you'll feel it from the first enthusiastic welcome to the last sad farewell.
Who we're working with: Alpago Natural History Museum Association. Already a great success story, in 2006 the association agreed to adopt the extended remit of practical conservation initiatives following the success of previous holidays in the area. We are continuing to work towards developing the organisation and promoting projects beyond these fantastic holidays and each holiday we've run has helped to increase local awareness and enthusiasm for conservation.
Where we're working: Beyond Venice, in the foothills of the Dolomites, the Veneto region conceals many secrets. Huge beech woods dominate the plateau of the Cansiglio area, first managed centuries ago to provide oars for the Venetian Republic. Belluno, the "Shining City" nestles amongst beautiful mountains. Scattered villages blend into the countryside of Alpago. Hawks and eagles soar above and marmots, chamois and red deer populate the alpine meadows and valleys below. The region boasts lands stretching from the mountains to the sea, with unique natural and architectural features famous worldwide for their beauty. It is the ceaseless work of nature, both powerful and delicate that the lands have to thank. From the same waters that even today bathe the coasts of the Veneto, hundreds of millions of years ago an incredible force lifted up the huge layers of deposits and coral reefs from the sea bed up to the sky. Thus today we can walk through the majestic pinnacles and dense forests of conifers and broadleaf.
What we'll be doing: Since starting to work in this community in 2004 we've been implementing a programme of landscape feature restoration, improving access to these historic features for visitors and promoting the use of traditional skills. This year we'll mainly be focusing our efforts on the restoration of a set of historical foot trails and possibly starting on the restoration of traditional dry-stone walls - this is subject to local funding and will be confirmed nearer the time. Our projects in the past have generated a lot of local interest and volunteers and local students are very keen to join us. There's always an atmosphere of fun as we work together sharing languages, lunches and loppers.
Neoclassical Conservation. From £510 (8 days) ex flights. 2008: 20 Sep, 27 Sep.
This a perennial favourite, and has been the core of our work at Villa Pianciani. The villa's restoration continues apace, and on these projects we'll be working in the original designed garden areas immediately surrounding. Set in the Umbrian hills, surrounded by picturesque olive groves, this holiday is perfect for lovers of the rural idyll and conservation holidays with that extra bit of comfort.
Who we're working with: The association Matilde Pianciani is a small (NGO) cultural association founded by the new generation of family owners to care of the large historical complex of this stunning Italian villa, the annex and the surrounding park. Much of the work in the parklands has been carried out in collaboration with us but the complexity and the extent of the project demands a lot of care to research and restore it to its original state.
Where we're working: A few kilometres from the town of Spoleto, this beautiful villa and park is nestled amongst olive groves atop a small hill, affording spectacular views of the rolling Umbrian countryside. An Italian national monument built as a summer residence for Count Alessandro Pianciani in the late 18th century, the Villa Pianciani Delizia is as delightful as its name. 1hr 30min from Rome and 2hrs from Florence. Umbria is one of the few landlocked Italian regions, sometimes referred to as 'Italy's Green Heart'. Dotted with splendid medieval hill towns this region gives you a chance to flee the crowds and escape to the isolated valleys and mountains.
What we'll be doing: We'll be working on a variety of jobs: over the past few years we’ve assist with the restoration of the landscaped grounds, including ornate steps and an amazing mosaic. We also have moved into the 'secret garden' where we've been working alongside local specialists on the restoration of two sections of wall. This year we'll be including restoration and repositioning of the ancient iron gates of the garden and we’ll start to restore the park’s original path as envisaged in the late 18th century by the neoclassic architect Giuseppe Valadier.
Olive Harvest. From £375 (8 days) ex flights. 2008: 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov.
Something a bit different! Join us and our Italian friends for the traditional olive harvest - the end of this year's work at the villa and the perfect holiday for anyone looking for a touch of comfort in the stunning hilltop surroundings of Umbria. And for lovers of real Italian food, we're looking forward to the last night's supper, and bringing home enough of our own cold-pressed organic olive oil to last until next year.
Who we're working with: The association Matilde Pianciani is a small (NGO) cultural association founded by the new generation of family owners to care of the large historical complex of this stunning Italian villa, the annex and the surrounding park. Much of the work in the parklands has been carried out in collaboration with us but the complexity and the extent of the project demands a lot of care to research and restore it to its original state.
Where we're working: A few kilometres from the town of Spoleto, this beautiful villa and park is nestled amongst olive groves atop a small hill, affording spectacular views of the rolling Umbrian countryside. An Italian national monument built as a summer residence for Count Alessandro Pianciani in the late 18th century, the Villa Pianciani Delizia is as delightful as its name. 1hr 30min from Rome and 2hrs from Florence. Umbria is one of the few landlocked Italian regions, sometimes referred to as 'Italy's Green Heart'. Dotted with splendid medieval hill towns this region gives you a chance to flee the crowds and escape to the isolated valleys and mountains.
What we'll be doing: Over the past few years we have been working to assist with the restoration of the landscaped grounds of the villa. As the year comes to a close, we'll take our serious hats off and join our friends at Villa Pianciani to help with the olive harvest. All done in the traditional way - with stick and sheets and glorious coloured ladders, this is a fun sociable project in the finest surroundings. It's not all frivolous though - the olive groves that surround the villa represent an important and charcteristic part of the landscape. The organic groves, unimproved over the years, are not commercially viable and without these projects, wouldn't get the maintenance and use they need to survive. As well as picking and pruning, we'll be able to watch the processing of the olives and bring home enough cold-pressed organic olive oil to last us until next year.
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you are looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
Biodiversity Survey and Mapping at Villa Pianciani Delizia: The project is part of wider research designed to directly know, analyse and evaluate the biological richness of the traditional rural landscape of the Umbrian Hills. It aims to contribute to the understanding of the importance of single parts and elements of the territory for the wildlife and biodiversity, in particular for habitat and species "of community interest" according to EEC Directives. A final report (land-use map, vertebrate check lists, results of analysis, iconography) will be produced. It will describe the context and the landscape of Villa Pianciani, contributing to the knowledge of the area and its biodiversity.
Mountains and Museums: Improving the area for visitors has a direct benefit on the local economy in this rural area. Improving facilities around and associated with the Natural History Museum is creating great educational benefits for local children and as well as the physical work which greatly assists an increasingly aging population, our very presence has injected a new vitality into the area reflected in the enthusiastic welcome from the whole community, and the interest generated amongst younger people. Neoclassical Conservation at Villa Pianciani: Despite all the efforts of the association and the projects already implemented, the vast Villa Pianciani complex, which was also damaged by the earthquake in 1997, is still far from being completely restored. It's a huge job involving a range of different skills and crafts but this project though will take us a step closer to the preservation of this stunning piece of cultural, architectural and landscape heritage. Olive Harvest at Villa Pianciani Delizia: The groves in which the villa is set are an ancient and traditional part of the landscape. These are increasingly suffering as realistically it is not economically viable to maintain them, and until now, much of the potential harvest has gone to waste. The work will not only provide you with the best stories to tell as you serve your salads, but ensures the continued survival of the groves and their important role in the landscape setting. As the UK's biggest environmental volunteering charity, our aim is to make the maximum contribution to the communities and places we work in and we always work with a local partner organisation. These are unique holidays in unique places. Working directly with a local environmental organisations staff, volunteers and local people you'll have the chance to experience Italy in a way no other holiday can offer. Living, laughing and working as a group, you're not only changing the world, you'll change your life. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |