1: How it works 

• Stay with us for 1 week
• Contribute 2–3 hours per day
• Join local community projects
• Practice Italian in daily life
• Enjoy free accommodation and optional activities

We are currently planning our first projects starting from September/October 2026 in Palizzi Marina. More information later.

2: Why joing and how to participate

You will be participating in these projects together with Italian people, and therefore it will be a great opportunity to improve your Italian speaking skills naturally. 

Meet international and local people and make new friends while you contribute to meaningful projects in our community. 

During your stay you will experience authentic Calabria, relax and exchange cultural experiences inside the group of participants.

3: Example of projects

Italian volunteers from Retake: They arrive from different cities in Italy to participate in a Summer Camp during August, but we want to do more!

Here are the four types of projects we have in mind:

This wall would be much better if it was painted, and maybe written some friendly sentences. Are you creative? Join us!

There are also concrete cubes close to the wall that could be painted in colors similar to the sea or sky. Imagine how much better it would become?

We also love to continue making the stairs in the old rural part of the village better by painting more of them. Maybe also in colors with some writing?

We believe that this village also needs some easy gardening, other kinds of small maintenance to improve the environment.

We could even make new flower beds or just plant into flower boxes that we add along the sidewalks?

And also community clean-up in beaches and inside the village. Plastic pollution is dangerous for humans who eat fish, so it's an important job. 

We will provide all materials needed for the projects that will be done in collaboration with local authorities. 

Therefore; if you are creative, handy or simply want to do an effort in exchange for you are the one we seek to participate in our project to improve the look of our village.

4: Accomodation & living

The apartments, which will be shared with one other participant, are close to the beach. They are all of good standard and they have either a balcony with sea views or outdoor terrace.

The apartments have a living room with a fully equipped kitchen.

The nearest supermarket is only 5 minutes walk from the apartments and there is also a market every Thursday.

There are two bedrooms and you will get your own bedroom with a double bed for privacy.

In the apartment there will also bathroom with shower and a laundry machine, 

The apartment is equipped with aircondition, but not wi-fi.

5: Activities & experiences

During your stay, choose to participate in different activities for your own costs. We either go by car or public transportation. More details below.

Grillparty at the beach

Directly in the beach, this rustic part of the village is open to everyone, and sometimes we arrange grillparties - sometimes also with music...more below!

Tasty Calabrian salcicca and meat from the best source.

People like this rustic and informal environment where they get local tasteful food. Many says it's the best “restaurant” in our village - and I agree! It's not a regular restaurant, but a culture association.

You do need to bring anything, it will be arranged. You pay directly what you feel for. Normally people leave like 25 euro each. 

Some also dance during the grill party or just combine it with a bath in the sea.

And from time to time, a friend drop by with some special dolci (sweets to please the guests even more) - see the video below. 

If we are lucky, there will also be music by the saxofon player Maurizio.

Sometimes even opera like in the video below.

And if you like, there are possibilities for karaoke.

Palizzi

During the week we will arrange guided visits to small villages in the mountains . Palizzi is the original village that was built from 700 after year zero.

Today, around 85 people live in this small community, located 272 meters above the sea, hidden in the mountains.

Here we can walk and get guidance from a local guide, and if we want we can ask for lunch or dinner. This is not included and more information will be sent when we launch.

Bova

Bova is one of the most beautiful villages in Calabria. This village was the capitol in the area grecanica, where the hospitality is a real authentic value even today.

If we choose to arrange a visit there, it will be in the late afternoon to view the fantastic sunset.

After the guidance at Bova, we need to eat, and the best stay is Al borgo di Marcello where you eat local food for affordable prices.

It's almost mandatory to eat local food and wine at affordable prices at Al Borgo di Marcello. The food is very tasteful and genuine.

Frankly, the best place to eat in Bova!

You can taste the famous n`duja from Calabria. Spice with chili, but not too spicy. It leaves a good feeling in your body.

We recommend choosing antipasti together with local wine. So tasty, and they give you plates after plates until you say stop!

For each person including everything it will be something between 20 - 25 euros for food and wine. 

Reggio Calabria

During your free time, you can take the bus or the train to Reggio Calabria on your own. You can for example take the bus 12:05, and return by the last train 20:08

It's famous for the lungo mare and you can also swim in the sea if you like, see the video below.

During our stay in Reggio Calabria, we can quietly walk along the sea.

We recommend visiting the archaeological museum to explore greek history and the famous Bronzi di Riace, which they found in the sea in 1971. 

These are more than 2500 years old and brought to Calabria by the Greeks.

And, of course, when in Reggio, do not miss the gelato at Cesare.

Very tasty and a “must have”!
You can choose from many different types, among them Bergamotto gelato.

6: About Palizzi Marina

Palizzi Marina is a small seaside village with about 1800 friendly inhabitants that are well known for hospitality and the antique Greek heritage. 

The beaches are protected because here you will find rare plants and flowers.

The village is situated towards the south with stunning beaches and crystal clear water, where you can enjoy both a swim in the morning and evening. 

There are very few shops and restaurants, therefore a calm environment where you can feel peace and calm while you take a swim in the sea.  

Eating and dining out is at affordable prices.

7: About us

We are a group of four that have created Capo Sud Grecanica ETS. My name is Roger, and I am one of the co-founders of this movement. 

ETS means our foundation is a volunteer project without scope of making money. 

Our mission is to develop our village sustainably, and through that, create jobs. 

We do not want to make our village into a tourist-machine, but do something good for visitors and the people who live here. 

We just want to make it cleaner, more beautiful with effort from people that want the same. 

Our village breathes calm, and kindness everyday, and it should be kept as a treasure. 

Some people who come here say: The silence and calm here feel like a kind of therapy you never knew you needed.