Upacchi
loc. Upacchi 51, 52031 Anghiari (Ar)

Status:
Established
Location:
Rural
Description:
Actually the Upacchi ecovillages has 52 permanent residents (13 women, 10 men and 19 children), and 8 non permanent residents (3 women, 3 men, 2 children). The project started in 1990 when the Cooperativa Agricola Upacchi Villagio Ecologico was founded and bought the abandoned hamlets Upacchi and Poggiolo in the province of Arezzo in Tuscany. There where 18 houses, all in ruins, 20 Ha of agricultural land and 50 ha of woodland. The houses were immediately resold to their future inhabitants, who first had to renovate them, mostly using ecological building techniques.

Infraestrucuture was created by the Cooperative (water supply sistem) and by privates (reed-beds for waste water depuration). The agricultural and is assignes to the single families living in the village, who clear and cultivate it.

From 1990 up to now, more and more families move into the village, when their houses are restored, to create a new economical base to be able to be living in the ecovillage. As more and more people come, conflicts are rising, and in 1998 it became clear that there had to be more feedom for each family to be able to continue to live together. It was decided to dissolve the Cooperative and privatize everything except common infraestructure. Now this source of conflict is eliminated, it is possible for everyone to decide in what degree or manner they want to participate in common activities, and new initiatives to strengthen social live are undertaken.

Actually there are 13 families living permanently in the village of whom five are German, or German/Italian. The other families come from other cities in Italy like Naples, Lecce, Bologna, Como. Two families live from agriculture and agricultural turism, others are arisans (clay-building, ecological electricity), therapists, or work outside the village.

Social activities are women's meetings, sweat-lodges, occasional common meditations and rituals, volleyball, and a big summer party in which participate also the people from the sourroundings.

To join the ecovillage one has to buy a house; although the houses have all been sold and restored, there is still flctuation. Guests are welcome, they can stay in caravans or holiday-flats, or work as volunteers with one of the farming families.
Visitors Received:
Non-Working Guests - Volunteers - Work Exchange
Address:
Upacchi 51
Anghiari 52031
Country:
Italy
Language:
Italian
Telephones:
+39 0575 749 323 (Phone) +39 0575 749 330 (Fax)

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