Airbnb Offers a Sabbatical in the Italian Village of Grottole

Airbnb is looking to revitalise the Italian countryside by offering four people the opportunity for a special sabbatical in the village of Grottole. While Airbnb is offering Parisian city-lovers the opportunity to spend a night in the Louvre museum, this three-month stay in Grottole offers a much more rustic and down to earth experience for the winners to immerse themselves in the local community. From Italian language lessons to growing fresh produce in the village’s vegetable garden, Airbnb’s Italian Sabbatical offers the ultimate escape from hectic city life and the opportunity to help revitalise Grottole.

This opportunity comes as the southern Italian hill-top village of only 300 inhabitants has been at risk of fading away and disappearing. With more than 600 empty homes in Grottole, the local non-profit organisation Wonder Grottole has been working to revitalise the town’s historical centre. Wonder Grottole’s founder Andrea has been working to purchase and renovate empty rundown homes, and to offer them to tourists and new aspiring residents with the goal of preserving Grottole’s deep-rooted traditions. His goal is to repopulate the charming town while also bringing in and integrating new cultures and ways of life.

Part of the sabbatical will be volunteering with Wonder Grottole as an Airbnb Experience and Home host, as you yourself get to know the different agricultural industries within Grottole. From honey harvesting and vegetable farming to pasta making and olive oil production, all of the proceeds from the Airbnb Experiences and Home hosting will be invested back into the village. More than just a simple vacation in Italy, this three month stay is about becoming a part of and helping to revitalise Grottole’s community. The Italian Sabbatical has been made possible by Airbnb and Wonder Grottole, along with Airbnb’s partnership with Fondazione Matera Basilicata 2019. The partnership aims to have visitors become temporary citizens that engage, learn, and teach alongside the local communities they visit.

Along with learning the Italian language, the four selected winners will be learning traditional Italian cooking, vegetable and fruit gardening, olive oil pressing, honey harvesting, and much more. Grottole’s hosts and residents are excited and hopeful about the opportunity to welcome new travelers to their hometown. They’re eager to share their traditions and ways of life, and show new travellers the village’s 10th century Castle Sichinulfo and its deep caverns turned wine cellars. This three month experience offers a truly unique opportunity to connect with and rebuild one of southern Italy’s smallest and friendliest villages.

Airbnb has specified that in the application process they’re looking for applicants who will be committed to contributing to Grottole’s daily village life. The winners will need to be prepared to move to Grottole from June to August of 2019, be over the age of 18, and speak good conversational English. Submissions for the Italian Sabbatical have closed, and Airbnb will be revealing the winners to the public on May 7th, 2019. All applicants will be notified of the results on April 29th of 2019, so if you applied be sure to check your inbox on the day!