Tribewanted Monestevole

Monestevole was originally built in the 15th century as a watch-tower for nearby Monestevole Castle. Today we are a 40 hectare farm working to become as self-sufficient as possible. Nature goes at its own pace, and we just started!

Our goal at Tribewanted is to show that it is possible to live sustainably, not just in remote locations and developing countries, but also in our own back yard. We hope to be an example for how we can all, hopefully, live 50 years from now.

Guests are welcome to participate as much or as little as they want in daily activities needed to run the farm and the home. These include feeding the animals, making bread and pasta and helping in our permaculture veggie garden, plus seasonal activities, such as grape and olive harvests.

We have different room types at Monestevole, ranging from private, two bedroom apartments to a shared dormitory space with four beds. All accommodations and common spaces have been lovingly restored, offering absolute comfort for rest and relaxation at the end of the day in our fields (or pool!)

Sustainable technologies are part of daily life here. Our showers are heated by solar panels, we recycle water to irrigate the fields and flush the toilets.

In the winter, our heating is powered by a wood-burning stove. We are constantly working to improve the structure with renewable energies, recycling, water treatment, compost, permaculture and green architecture.

At Monestevole we cook together, eat together, and drink wine together. Umbria is famous for olive oil, truffles, pork meat and wild boar. Food is grown locally, deep in Umbrian traditions. The meats are grass fed from the Umbertide valley; the pork, extra virgin olive oil, jams, tomato sauce and veggies are all from Monestevole’s organic permaculture gardens, and wine is from our vineyard.

We have horses, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens, dogs, cats and even an albino peacock. We are training Tribu’, the newly born colt, and the kids can enjoy our pet pig Matilda and our pet goats Pablo and Tiramisu’.

5 people live and work in Monestevole, another 5 locals live nearby and work with us. We welcome guests from around the world, including families with children and single travellers. The house sleeps up to 22. No two weeks here are the same – our home is a community in constant flux.

Umbria is the greenest region of Italy; full of woodlands, which have been sustainably harvested for the past 20 years. At Monestevole, there are plenty of walks and bike rides for every level. Climb Monte Acuto or Migianella; walk to the water dam for a swim and picnic or visit the abandoned Monestevole Castle.

For those wanting to explore Umbria and Tuscany, Monestevole is ideally placed for excursions to nearby Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Montone, Spello, Norcia, Spoleto, Montefalco, Citta’ di Castello, San Sepolcro, Anghiari/Caprese Michelangelo, Trasimeno lake, Citta’ della Pieve, Orvieto, Cortona, Arezzo, Siena, Montalcino, Bagno Vignone and the Tevere springs.