Five Strangers, One Italian Village, & The Volunteer Trip of a Lifetime
Out of 280,000 applicants, five people were picked to spend the summer revitalizing a sleepy Southern Italian town for Airbnb’s first ever volunteer vacation.
By Hannah Summers
Photographs by Julia Sellmann
Curious about where his Italian grandfather had been born, Darrell Pistone, originally from Yonkers, New York, began researching his family history. “He came to the U.S. when he was 20 and never talked about Italy, so I didn’t know,” says the retired firefighter. “A cousin told me that he was born in Grottole, and when I looked it up on Google Earth and zoomed in on the satellite image, I saw a sign that had my last name on it! I said, ‘That’s got to be the place.’” Further web searches led to a call for submissions for the new Airbnb Sabbatical program, in partnership with Wonder Grottole, an organization dedicated to restoring the historic center of this sleepy Southern Italian town in the region of Basilicata. In a summer-long stint there, five chosen volunteers would get to live and work alongside villagers, learning their crafts (cooking, beekeeping, and more) and sharing skills of their own, such as business management and mechanical repairs.
Pistone scored a spot — out of 280,000 applicants — along with four others from around the globe: Anne Tachado of Melbourne, Australia; Remo Sciubba of Cardiff, Wales; Pablo Colangelo of Buenos Aires; and Helena Werren of Toronto. “It didn’t seem to be a possibility, like winning the lottery, but then I got it!” says Werren. Once there, the participants assisted with gardening tasks, taught English, and helped with home renovations; they also got lessons on everything from cooking to harvesting honey. Pistone even discovered long-lost relatives. “One woman, Letizia D’Aria, goes, ‘Oh, I know your father, your aunt, your uncle. Your grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister.’ She had a picture of my grandfather in New York, and knew all about him.” As thrilling as this was for him personally, the rewards of giving back as a group were even greater. “Everyone is talented, and we got along really well. I think this was something exciting for the townspeople. You didn’t know exactly how it was going to turn out, but it was so interesting to see it all unfold.”
“People asked how we were going to save the village. I felt we could bring attention to the area, and that would have a positive effect on tourism.”
— Darrell Pistone, Airbnb sabbatical volunteer
Family Reunion
Pistone (below, center) relished the chance to meet two cousins he had never known about: Giuditta Lamagna (left) and Letizia D’Aria. “I thank God for this whole experience. Without it, I don’t think I would have had as much luck at finding my relatives,” he says. “With my grandfather leaving Italy and me coming back now, it feels like a full-circle journey.”
Flash(back) Photography
D’Aria shared old pictures with Pistone, along with family stories. “She had some photos of my grandpa, my grandfather’s sister, and my Aunt Nancy’s wedding,” he says. “She pointed out my father. She knew their names. It was quite emotional for me.” Pistone was so moved by his experience in Grottole that he now has plans to buy a house right here in his grandfather’s original hometown.
Making the Cut
A master of many trades, Rocco Filomeno is a barber and a beekeeper who leads an Airbnb Experience (abnb.co/grottole beekeeper) and puts a premium on hospitality. “I went to Rocco for a haircut, and he wouldn’t even take my money. That’s typical,” says Sciubba. “We really clicked. I’ve already invited him to visit me in Wales.”
Buzzworthy Moment
Filomeno took sabbatical volunteers through the honey-making process — a highlight for Werren. “Beekeeping is more complex than I expected, but Rocco is a great storyteller, so he made it interesting and easy to understand,” she says. “He describes the queen bee and the hives like a royal society and chambermaids, so it’s something you can really imagine. And it’s funny.”
Hive Mentality
Apiculture classes with Filomeno (center) were an unexpected hit among the volunteers. “I didn’t think I would enjoy this, but it was something I really looked forward to,” says Tachado (far right, next to Colangelo, with Werren and Sciubba at left). Colangelo even sees a future in it. “I think the challenge of having your own hive is very interesting,” he says. “Someday when I’ve settled down, I would like to start beekeeping.”
“I wanted to give locals an understanding of tourists so that when visitors arrive, they can host or help them.”
— Pablo Colangelo, sabbatical volunteer
A Piece of the Action
Cooking class instructor Enza Iasiuolo has a seasoned assistant in the kitchen: her mother, Maria Carmela Cornacchia (left, with Sciubba). The two shared recipes and techniques for authentic Italian cuisine, including pasta from scratch. “Enza is a real character. She makes me laugh,” says Sciubba. “Everyone here wanted to help you and be with you, so the sabbatical was a great experience. The older you get, the more you want to live life to the fullest.”
Just What They Kneaded
Cooking didn’t come easy to everyone in the group. “Making pasta shapes was difficult at first,” says Werren, “but I learned ‘piano, piano,’ which basically means to relax into it and take your time. Everything in Grottole is sprinkled with ‘piano, piano.’ A walk home can take 30 minutes instead of five because you’ll bump into someone who will want to stop and have a coffee with you.
Inspiring Outlook
Stretched across two hills, 480 meters above sea level, the tiny town of Grottole is steeped in history. Its first inhabitants found shelter in the caves that circle the town’s base, and these days those caves are used as wine cellars. On one hill sits the crumbling ruins of Castle Sichinulfo — once fought over by powerful royal families — and nearby are the towering walls of a 16th-century “fallen church” that collapsed after a series of earthquakes in the 18th century. The city is made up of a maze of pretty alleyways. Residents often gather for espresso at a coffee shop in the morning and meet up in the main square in the evening.Flavors to Savor
Warm toasted bread is one of the best accompaniments for the extra-virgin olive oil made locally by resident Giuseppe D’Aria and his son, Vicenzo. On an Airbnb Experience , guests stroll through the family’s grove, see the mill in action, and glimpse pressing techniques passed down from older generations.
Following the Right Path
Sciubba (below, left) and Colangelo (right) spent time along with the other volunteers helping Mario Grilli, a local farmer, expand and maintain the town’s communal vegetable garden so locals can enjoy the fresh produce for many years to come. “People are so proud of their food here in Italy,” says Colangelo. “Cooking doesn’t start at the supermarket, but when you plant the seed.”
Living La Dolce Vita
The sabbatical’s youngest member, Tachado, 24 (below, right), found the cultural differences between herself and the Grottole residents refreshing. “We had a long afternoon break here. It’s something I’m not used to, because in a big city like Melbourne that runs 24/7, you’re on the go morning until night. I learned to go with the flow.” Colangelo (left) was also on board. “I had never lived in a small town like this, and I found it very attractive. I like the idea of a more laid-back way of living, without caring that much about appointments and everything.”
About the author: Hannah Summers is an award-winning freelance lifestyle journalist and blogger specializing in food, travel, and, er, Bruce Springsteen. She writes regularly for the Guardian, the Sunday Times, and National Geographic Traveler.
