FAQ

Baglio San Michele is a 16th-century fortified farmhouse in the Ragusano area, in the heart of the Iblean Sicily. The project transforms this historic property into the first nucleus of a traditional intentional community, where selected families live permanently according to the principles of Sicilian Slow Living.

The project is primarily aimed at Italian families with children (or who wish to have them), with parents between 35 and 50 years old and 1-3 children aged between 3 and 16. These are family units seeking a profound change in lifestyle: stability, security, quality of relationships, and transmission of values.

Baglio San Michele is not a resort, not a diffused hotel, and not a seasonal tourist project. It is a place of stable year-round residence, inhabited by families who choose it as their home and adhere to a shared internal regulation.

It is also not similar to kolkhozes or kibbutzim. It is a voluntary model, founded on traditional Christian faith, private ownership of homes, and self-governance inspired by Sicilian rural traditions and the Benedictine Rule. The nuclear family is at the center of the model.

Admission takes place in stages: application, interview, short residential visit, trial period, and formal entry with an agreement. The selection is mutual and aims to ensure alignment of values and shared responsibility.

The project is structured in three phases: Phase 1 (2026–2028): restoration of the farmhouse and creation of 14 apartments. Phase 2 (post-2028): construction of 20 new rural homes on the 23 hectares. Phase 3: development of a replicable network of villages.

Community life is based on freedom with responsibility and clear rules. Governance provides for a Chapter of the Savi composed of 9 members with specific skills. Positions are subject to rotation and periodic reporting.

The Christian spiritual dimension is a founding value of community life. The community is intentionally rooted in traditional Christian faith and Sicilian culture. The spiritual figure is integrated into governance to ensure fidelity to these principles.

Food, livestock, and artisanal self-sufficiency is a pillar of the model. Priority activities include biodynamic agriculture, integrated livestock farming, and artisanal processing, with the aim of strengthening the community’s resilience.

The project requires professionals in the agricultural and livestock sector, artisanal food processing, craftsmanship and restoration, as well as figures for governance, services, and education.

The project is currently in the preparatory phase. Visits and trial periods will be organized in a structured way once Phase 1 begins. Those interested can still apply and begin the path of mutual discovery.