Il Popolo degli Elfi, Italy
Founded in 1980 | Area: 500 ha | Residents: 200

Il Popolo degli Elfi was born in 1980, when a group of four people tired from city life decided to move to a small abandoned village only accessible by foot in the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano. Eventually the community grew to more than 200 members spread throughout 30 living areas in the valley, occupying abandoned buildings that were transformed into comfortable houses according to their simple lifestyle.

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With roots in Northern European mythology, the Elf is seen as a peaceful creature tasked with the preservation of Nature Mario Cecchi reading a tale. He's one of the founders of the Elfi and a charismatic reference in the Italian eco-community movement Milking time in Gran Burrone, the first settlement being occupied and restored by the Elfi pioneers in 1980 The view from Gran Burrone. The mountains of the Italian Appennino are covered with a dense and rich forest Vincenzo picking figs. 'People didn't came up the mountain to go against the system, they came up the mountain to live' (M. Cecchi) Fruits and vegetables are transformed in marmalades, juices and sauces, and preserved in a cold room for the winter Abandoned buildings were transformed into comfortable houses according to their simple lifestyle Goutcha, a traveler from Poland. Visitors are welcome all year long, with no bookings required, just willingness to help Pagode, a family house made of wood, straw and clay. One of the new structures built by the Elfi Boys reading. The community brought new life to a region mainly inhabited by elderly citizens The great majority of Elfi settlements raise animals in order to produce their own milk, cheese and eggs Ronie helps picking fruit while his father tells him about great adventures of South American heroes Manuela teaches in one of the home schools in the valley A pizza oven in Aldaia. The Elfi's economy is fueled by their famous pizza, sold in fairs, markets and festivals Children playing. The young Elfi are all registered in the local primary school, where they grew from a minority to a large majority Rio and Emma reading in the hammock. In their 30 years of existence the Elfi gave birth to more than 120 children