Family fixes home in ghost-town lab & tells others to follow

With 25,000 euros and 1,000 hours of work, Maurizio Cesprini and his partner Paola Gardin rebuilt a ruined home in the medieval village of Ghesc, Italy. They hope other young families will consider their example with a plentiful supply of medieval ghost towns. They also feel drawn to save the rich architectural heritage of artisanal stonework dotting villages throughout the Alps and beyond.
Called “The Village Laboratory,” Ghesc is part-owned by the Canova Association and hosts workshops so college students worldwide can come learn historical stone construction techniques. The public half of the village includes a communal kitchen, pizza oven, and concert spaces.
Right now, Ghesc (in local dialect; “Ghesio” in Italian) in the commune of Montecrestese near the Swiss border has just 3 inhabitants (Maurizio, Paola, and their son Emil), but the four homes that comprise the private side of town are at various stages of being rebuilt.
Canova Association: www.canovacanova.com/
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/fami...

[@7yorker7]

Instead of watching "Inside Tommy Hilfiger's $50 million Plaza Hotel Penthouse" I enjoy watching this... I get the feeling that more and more people want just to live a life in harmony, creativity, and close to nature.

[@tishainess9339]

Amen sister

[@kaththerath]

just watched parts of it. that was disgusting! thanks for that ;)

[@7yorker7]

@@kaththerath that was my initial thought too but when you think about creating something for yourself, and by yourself, it really doesn't matter if someone finds it disgusting. have a good one.

[@EuroUser1]

I prefer to live close to work. But it's interesting to hear about other options.

[@markschattefor6997]

What is a Tommy Hilfiger?

[@paulofengland1331]

Does anyone want to quit the rat race and do something similar? I'm so fed up with it all.

[@MoonBeamLight]

Paul of England every single day.

[@77Tadams]

The thing you run into in the states is all the regulations with power. You can pretty much skirt around the issue of water and sewer with a well and a septic tank if you are out from all the built up homes. You have to get the permit to get a power source. We are on a plot of 5 acres and we were able to convert a cinderblock home that was run down and we also plastered the walls on the inside. It is possible to pretty much do everything yourself....you just have to have the motivation. The power is probably the hardest obstacle...but there is no reason you can't do things with a gasoline generator and solar....you just have to weigh the cost.

[@paulofengland1331]

@@MoonBeamLight where are you? I keep looking at boats and cob house building. Burrows and tree houses. Don't wanna do it alone but am getting to the stage where I just can't abide society any longer. I want to live simply and in peace.

[@paulofengland1331]

@@77Tadams it's pretty much the same here in England. Regulations galore. There's a way around everything really though :-) most laws are only acts.. I keep wishing for a boat and sail around the coast looking for quiet spots. Maybe have a few shelters. Feels like the whole system is about to implode. I want out.

[@lkfetterer]

I’m in.

[@bericobrian7009]

The happiest of them all is that dog. He's having a good time. Living close to nature. Beautiful place to live.

[@josephalexandrerothschild3642]

That is so true, no worries about traffice..etc. I want a kitty and dog and let them live naturally and not caged in a house (prison)

[@ravesterj4316]

@@josephalexandrerothschild3642 I agree. That's the only way I'll have a pet.

[@carlyh6913]

The puppy is soooo adorable, how much fun he would have exploring that place. I love how he followed the people around, helping to show the beautiful village. Good little dogger 😍😍

[@ZebbMassiv]

Fart me a rainbow

[@carlyh6913]

@@ZebbMassiv tf lol

[@AmyCCloverlanez]

Best kind of footage!! No background music, no hype, no long intro, has captions. SUBSCRIBING! I truly hope others watch this that make youtube videos like this and take notes on how it should be done! Beautiful scenery, interesting topic and very informative! Thank you!

[@xxHouseInMotionxx]

YEEEEEES. A sincere thanks!

[@christineaygin6701]

And he doesn't repeat himself as if we are idiots ,,,,, so refreshing

[@spaceman9599]

Agreed. Simplicity, 'no filters'

[@matteomagurno3068]

Well said!

[@ORenee]

I agree with this wholeheartedly. Nothing distracts you from what's presented.

[@ciaobella8963]

I live in a small borgo in the hills of northern Tuscany. There are only 12 of us in the village in the winter. Others come in the summer because it is so pleasant here. All the houses are made of stone. Only a few are rendered. The village I am told was built around the 12th century. My house is 800 years old. I bought it partially renovated but had to finish the work. I have learned that we have to use special stucco and paint on the inside so the walls can breathe. In torrential rains, I have had the damp come through the stones right onto the inside walls. Something I never get used to haha. A stone house stays cooler in the summer and retains heat in the winter. Living in a house like this is an experience of a lifetime, so I enjoyed your video very much.

[@ombra306]

come si chiama il borgo?

[@latinlingo44]

CiaoBella how can I purchase a house there my friend ?

[@ciaobella8963]

@@ombra306 Preferisco non dire su internet perché vivo da solo. Il mio borgo è in Lunigiana. :-)

[@ciaobella8963]

@@latinlingo44 There are many small villages (hamlet/borgo) in Italy. First you visit Italy, then travel enough to know the area you want to live in. Then visit the villages. When you find a village you like, find a realtor (agent) in the nearest town to the village, and they will show you what is available. Tell them your price range and that you want a house to renovate. Also get the agent to explain to you what the regulations and costs are to buy a house in Italy as a foreigner. Good luck. :-)

[@SatumainenOlento]

@@ciaobella8963 Simple as that! BRILLIANT!!! :D :D :D

[@blahblah60]

That valley is heavenly, imagine having a morning coffee on that patio

[@HealthRecovery]

I don't think any modern pleasure can compete!

[@vondahe]

More like an espresso but that’s a tiny detail. I just wonder how they sustain themselves. If I could find a way to sustain my family there, I would consider it. My wife would surely love it but my teenage son would never go anywhere without fast internet.

[@danceswithstone]

Imagine six feet of snow, more in the forecast, the winter still young . . .

[@rayva1]

Blah Blah the nature is quite breathtaking I’ll give you that.

[@crazedbabe1121]

@Jay Smith beacuse they had not been maintained in 200+ years the house you live in will collapse in 200+ years if you disappear

[@AL-jz3jv]

This is Italy. A gem of a place, an artist of a man.

[@Pressplay_Media_EU]

This is the absolute best thing I have ever seen, as far as house & home goes . A7la bel beyte

[@arthurwhite8245]

My partner found this after we had moved to italy to restore an old abandoned water mill. I see things exactly the way Maurizio does. Working on the building and the land makes me so very happy. I put all the energy and love that i have into this place because it just seems like the right thing to do, both for the mill and for me. We were told that no one could remember anyone living here but today a car arrived and a 79 yr old woman got out. She told me that she had lived here when she was a little girl but her family had emigrated to America. She was so happy that someone had finally come to bring love to the place that she once called home, she kept repeating " sono cosi felice". It was all i could do to not cry. It will take me some time to finish as i work alone but its not a race and i'm learning as i go. We are not wealthy, far from it but i feel better off than any one i know who is still on the treadmill.

[@dinka3668]

I love how this guy switches between italian and English making the subtitle guy's job hell

[@Mark.Watson]

I don't. It's annoying.

[@Harlock2day]

When he wants to elaborate he feels more comfortable in Italian. It’s not a problem, as long as we understand.

[@nikkyf22]

He switches for mor details because his English is not good enough sometimes when learning a new language it’s easier and quicker we don’t know how long he has known how to speak English. I think it’s amazing that with the switch its intertwining 2 cultures

[@Noni_Chanu]

@@Mark.Watson really? ....as a multi lingual family we switch languages while conversing. I feel English language is incomplete....cuz some words we can't find in English or how to express in English , we try to find similar meaning on how to express it. Sometimes it's not easy. And we always end up saying "how do I say this in English" 😂

[@charlesatwell9976]

He speaks in English to answer the comments of the lady who speaks American English.

[@redowlful]

Isn't it ironic that some of the same reasons that this village was abandoned are what attracts people to it now. The location is magical, and the old stone buildings are the stuff of dreams. This would be like living in a fairy tale. I'm truly sad that I don't have enough time left to tackle something so wonderful.

[@naqshnaz7324]

Search for the real truth if you really have less time ...Come to our lord before it's too late ...

[@franxiety4613]

No, come to our lord instead. He has beers in the fridge and he's cool with you if you take one

[@redowlful]

@@naqshnaz7324 If you mean The Lord, I'm already His.

[@EndranExit]

Wtf why people talk about Lord ? we live in modernity and replaced that word with boss or if you mean landlord then use full name.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

They're still a fairy tale. And 99% of the reality of restoring a remote place like this is left out of the video.

[@Impreval]

Italian dude: "Do you want me to talk in italian or english?" Interviewer: "Yes."

[@PavelNNJ]

I've been in many situations when I was talking to a person in one language and he/she would respond in different. Sometimes it works better :)

[@fionasmom6254]

I enjoy listening to him, especially with the mixture of the 2 languages.

[@niimoo767]

😂😂

[@enhanced6892]

This looks straight out of A Plague Tale

[@hongrui95]

Yes-a

[@SirLongshank64]

I was stationed in Italy for several years, on the mainland, Sicily and Sardegna. I did a lot of exploring with my mountain bike and found many structures like this and often thought how cool it would be to rebuild and live in one. I envy these people and what they have done. It's really something very special. I hope you enjoy.

[@orang3096]

SirLongshank64 Thank you for your service sir.

[@SirLongshank64]

@Conexus X18 Thanks for the Geography lesson but I was stationed on the mainland,

[@jl7887]

@@orang3096 What Service? You didn't even ask what for. How blindly trusting can someone be that being stationed somewhere is good?

[@skylergardner2792]

@@jl7887 pretty good for European allies considering the Pax Americana that has kept them safe for decade upon decade. American blood, European soil.

[@Bjornieman]

Actually, you can, there were municipalities in Italy - I remember looking at some village in Sardegna, about two klicks inland from the northern coast - that offered houses for sale for 1€, on the provision that you would rebuild and live in them. I think some of the offers are still up.

[@AsifKhan-ju4ld]

The baby has no idea how fortunate he will be to grow up in such a beautiful environment. How such places can be abandoned baffles me.

[@brigandboy1425]

Live in a small town. Live in one especially as an outsider or newcomer. Live somewhere for a while that has no metropolitan center even remotely close by. Understanding will come when you realize that all the people you encounter (probably all of a hundred people or so) are all the people you will ever see. Imagine for a moment you aren't well liked. Or imagine for a moment that you don't much like them. They have weird habits. Perhaps they smell weird or are ugly to your eyes. Perhaps that applies to you in their eyes. Now imagine growing up never knowing the outside world. Imagine that kid not having internet access, so the bits and pieces he does know about the outside world is garnered through snippets of access to a computer somewhere in a neighboring village or the major town. Put yourself in his shoes, and imagine the ache that is undefined and impossible to ignore, knowing deep down, somewhere, that there is "more" out there than your perfect, idyllic little village home. When people who feel that ache leave their small towns, they rarely find their way back, and even when they do, it's rarer indeed when they come back to stay. There needs to be a unifying draw to keep a place like that alive. Families working together and banding together to keep each other well fed, alive, and productive. People abandon places like that because the food disappears, the government (either foreign or domestic) steps in and makes life harsher than it needs to be, or the place becomes boring and harder than it would be in a simple modern city. Personally, I would love to live in a place like that so long as there was access to internet and access to electricity. I can imagine spending my days grinding metal, making tools and pieces of art, repairing my house and the houses of others, growing food and storing it, and creating something that will last long after I'm gone. But I live in a city, so this kind of fantasy comes naturally to a person like me. I can't imagine doing the same thing in my city now, and I have to figure that any person having lived in such a village their whole life will be having the same fantasy but from the opposite direction.

[@ruben1475]

I visited one of such mountain villages in southern France a few years ago, and much of abandoning them had to do with a lack of basic necessities and services such as electricity, running water, and healthcare. Much of them also became ghost towns after World War One, when so many men had died that the villages' populations became too small to stay self-sustaining.

[@AsifKhan-ju4ld]

@@brigandboy1425 I guess it looks idyllic to someone like me who was born, raised and continue to live in a big, busy city where everyone is caught up in the rat race. Where violent crimes and theft are just a norm. Where the noise and pollution is just a part of everyday life. I supppose it's a case of wanting what you can't have. If I had grown up in such a place no doubt I'd be itching to leave for a big city. Abandoned towns like these are good places for people in their middle age to settle into but like you say they will have kids who might eventually want out. If more middle age, middle class people moved into these places then the community would be re-born and perhaps if they have families the sense of isolation for the young people might not be so great. With progress in 4g and 5g technology access to the internet and so on is becomming ever easier and also progress in 'off-grid' living and renewable energy technology.

[@Ilovedallthepeople]

I think most young people wouldnt like it. Its amazing when you are already an adult, specially in a commited relationship already, but no child and specially no teen wants to be isolated, they want fun and new experiences, not this beautiful calm environment. When he grows up though he will have the most gorgeous place awaiting for him to be able to finally appreciate, specially knowing that his parents worked so hard for it.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Because they're REMOTE & very hard to modernize - that's why. Most people can't handle camping for a weekend let alone living away from all the conveniences they grew up with. And its an expensive & very long venture to take on - let alone dealing with the regulations & bureaucracy involved in these projects.

[@rubberbiscuit99]

What they are doing is fascinating. Going backwards and forwards in time, from the present. Requires the knowledge of the elders, the planning of the adults, and the physicality of the youth to make all of this happen.

[@rich_jg5705]

It's key to remember these villages are not relics of the past. For thousands of years settlements evolved and looked similar, it's only the departure of life which made them die and there's enough ruins worship. Settlements were created to be lived in; reviving them should be encouraged everywhere. Traditional building methods are in essence settlements made by local materials suited to the climate. This tradition shouldn't stop or be viewed as ancient history. The departure of this long continued tradition is an invention of the 21st century.

[@2bczar4u]

@@rich_jg5705 we are a bit smug in our thinking that modern is just so much better yet this way survived for much much longer. Who knows we may very well have to go back to this and who will have the skills to do so?

[@SatumainenOlento]

@@2bczar4u You are right! I think that we need to go back to live communal lives, start connecting with the our roots so to understand what we need as humans to live happy and meaningful lives. People need more simple life surrounded by nature. Also economically, we must downsize as we are living totally over the limits of this planet. Our needs match with the planets needs, so there is hope still for all of us!

[@funnyanimalshorts643]

@@SatumainenOlento It wouldn't be so bad if coastal cities would stop dumping all their trash in the ocean. They passed laws in cali about straws but refuse to stop dumping tons of trash in the ocean everyday! Regarding usage of resources, food is as cheap as it is world wide because of modern farming practices and GMO food. We can grow 10 times what we used to be able to in the same acreage. As for oil, we seem to have discovered enough sources to last another few hundred years. As for air quality, laws have mostly cleaned that up....unless you live in china. Even india is making the effort that china refuses. The usa is the third most populated country in the world and we ARE doing our part. China needs to step it up. As for consumption of wood, clearing of forests etc....You might want to talk to brazil. All the other south american countries have mostly cleared the amazon from their lands. Brazil owns the majority of the amazon now and they are clearing it wholesale. There is literally nothing we can do about it without taking over their country. As for us, old growth forests are off limits. We have tree farming practices now that I have seen in use where I live. The logging company owns several hundred acres of land and replants after clearing. They have figured out that it is cheaper than buying more land to clear. The animals on the land are in no danger, the rivers and creeks on the land never get polluted, and the trees get cut about 5 years before their natural deaths. Trees are now the most renewable resource we have.

[@josephyi3091]

@R.A. Andrews Also requires license to rebuild (difficult to obtain by the normal citizens there), labour (which came free to him and he didn’t pay a cent for), cost (which sure as hell wouldn’t have been as little as 25000 Euros for folks that don’t/didn’t have government positions such as the documentee, minus labour) and solutions to other problems related to uncleared mountainous locations (such as linked drainage systems and seasonal road clearing/repairs that their government unfortunately doesn’t provide for that area)...

[@Napsteraspx]

Honestly so beautiful that a village left for centuries is being lived in again. I'm sure the original inhabitants would be so happy to see that their dear village is growing again.

[@grahamb7947]

That guy is an absolute inspiration. Couldn't agree with him more at the profound sadness of old buildings like this being torn down / lost to history due to neglect and ignorance towards the thousands of hours it took for our ancestors to actually build them. These buildings were around before any of us were born, and if maintained, they'll be here for centuries longer. We just don't make buildings to such a high quality anymore.

[@thelightison8629]

What a beautiful place to wake up to every morning.

[@BertrandBarraud]

Until you get used to it, like everywhere ^^

[@sakoupa]

@@BertrandBarraud If you have poor imagination you get used to it, like everywhere. If you have poor imagination you'll be like everyone. But if you not - each season will be magically different for you, because nature has the ability to change. And this village is in the middle of *Nature* .

[@BoopShooBee]

The complexity and irregularities are pleasing to my eye. Newer more sterile buildings can be taken in at a glance, and once seen there is no reason to keep looking. What a great place for kids to grow up in. The stairs are scary.

[@jamescrud]

Yeah, crazy dangerous.

[@echoedinnocence]

But at least it would look awesome if you fell down those beautiful stairs! Lol

[@longyarn4288]

Glenn Howden - stairs are scary with or without a handrail... when you have to use a cane. Single story for me please. But it's still beautiful.

[@jamescrud]

@@echoedinnocence Yes it would make for some good KZbin content for sure.

[@mazzer37]

The only thing I didn't like was the lack of stair rails, and nothing at the top to prevent you falling. (Not wise with a small child). Otherwise it is fantastic. ❤

[@sammid9440]

The stone buildings, the mountains and valleys, it's all a feast for the eyes. Beautiful!

[@karamlevi]

Sam Duck yeah cycling there would be a treasure as long as no camps with fighting age males rolling around-

[@BlackHeart_YouTube_Channel]

Welcomd to Italy ;-)

[@WindWolfAlpha]

Honestly, if I were to ever move to Italy, Ghesc looks like a place I would truly enjoy! I was born, and grew up, as a boy, in mountain and forest areas in the U.S. Plus, medieval architecture is a fascination of mine!

[@queencleo1151]

Maybe we'll meet there one day... May your wish come true!

[@jamiebarrientos9969]

Same here! Rural towns and in the 'gully' i was a flower child but ive been trapped in a house for so long im dying to get some land

[@westernwanderer8397]

Wow. Maurizio, you are saving history. If only there were more people like you in the world. What stories those walls could tell! Grazie.

[@pennypiper7382]

Only the ‘right’ people should take over these lovely places. Meaning= those who love and appreciate culture,history and handcrafts. Great video.

[@77Tadams]

This is so fantastic. This is how people should live. If I had all the money I needed I would live like this. I think we are so far gone as a society. People are suffering so much. Life is so short.

[@lazarmitev513]

People are suffering so much? Back then life expectancy was 30-40 years max. You could die from a fly bite or any kind of infection. Don't forget about the constant wars in Europe. We live in the best time of human history so far....

[@lukelambert6245]

Lazar Mitev cancer is bringing it back to those levels with all the poison s in our globalist society which is crumbling around us,I knew many who have died young,cleaner simpler lifestyles where u produce and consume most of your own needs seems healthier and fitter also ,what mankind was intended to do before corporations took over .

[@77Tadams]

Lazar Mitev just because we have longer life expectancy doesn’t mean it is meaningful or purposeful. It is good to have an enlightened society verses working at a job that is meaningless or buying stupid shit you don’t need. Also consider the fact that people are not eating food that has nutrition and most sit in-front of a screen all day. That is not good. There are great things about living now....this video proves it. Modern married to the old.

[@TheYah00netstar]

77Tadams Start practicing a community at "Second Life" first...

[@77Tadams]

TheYah00netstar what is second life?

[@JustCallMeElle]

It's like those village in fairytales. Beautiful. If I live there I would have a vegetable garden, flower garden, honeybees, chickens.

[@MrDaryca]

OMG, this is such a beautiful project! Congrats Maurizio. It's the end of 2021, I wonder what's it like there now. I loved what he said about being just a guest in the house.

[@luck2know]

I would love to see more of their beautiful place,now in 2022.

[@masoumehlashgari7570]

Amazing to see how a dead village comes back to life! Thanks to the hard work of these people with love and care.

[@mitchellwhite9920]

Thankfully he didn't see the village as being 'dead'. He just had the good fortune and ability to see its current restoration as 'breathing new life' in it to make it stand proudly once more. What a sweet family.

[@Nopeyou800]

Now if only this could be done in Detroit!

[@sritantra]

"When the nature starts to reappropriate the place, it's a completely different energy...." What a story. I was living not far from here across the border in Ticino. Beautiful area with deep cut natural character. Smart bilingual production by Kirsten.

[@oregonsbragia]

Gotta love the passion of the Italians. So much history in those hills.

[@fionasmom6254]

I love how the dog positions himself with his paws dangling over the stair ledge to keep an eye out for whomever may venture up. Bet he loves living there.

[@englishrose5483]

I think you wish you were that dog lol.

[@AlqGo]

I feel like the government should hire him to start a new initiative to repopulate abandoned villages such as this one.

[@Hippabellita1]

LoL - the government is part of the reason why these villages are abandoned - and he is part of the local government .... that's why he got permits where no average citizen would ....

[@kenmarquardt4118]

Fact check please.@@Hippabellita1

[@KittyKat-zd1yr]

@Bebe Oh my gush exactly. Give Italy 10 more years they will see what and who they welcome in.

[@creative-anon-ca______4560]

theres good government and bad government. the good tend to be small towns, the bad tend to be mega cities with corruption

[@MrDuck-oi3qc]

Put migrants in those villages and make them wear medieval clothing.

[@ronsmith1364]

This is satisfying on so many levels. Preserving and recapturing stone masonry from 500 yo homes presents sustainable in its essence. Apply passive solar and rain harvesting techniques with or in the rebuilding process and small scale communities are blessings in truth.

[@shawnbechard3680]

That place is magical! Thank you for your hard work and allowing the world to witness it.

[@vooveks]

The view from that balcony...Lovely. What a project. I love how they haven’t tried to be modern or old fashioned too much either way. Just gone with nice, simple ideas that fit the feel of the village and buildings.

[@pookiebear364]

It is reassuring to see young people participating in the rebuilding of a community.

[@cathylynnpietranton]

Well this is amazing what he's doing. just love the old buildings and structures. Sure is a lot of hard work but a for him it looks like a Work of Love. thanks for sharing

[@joyg8904]

Beautiful area, and love the stones

[@CarolynsRVLife]

Isn't this such a great story and an admirable endeavor? I love this video.

[@cathylynnpietranton]

@@CarolynsRVLife Yes it is

[@hikinggirl1601]

Character is an understatement. Amazing architecture and mountainous views! Thanks for sharing.

[@jaivkoltun4948]

This is like back to the future where we will once again live in villages and communities we are drawn to, living amongst land and folk we feel a connection to. Yay. . .

[@Sylentmana]

I just spent 127K buying a house, but I what I should have done was reclaim an abandoned village in Europe.

[@goransvraka3171]

Would have cost you less too!

[@carpediem8752]

I read not long ago about an Australian that bought a castle for $1 in France or Italy, I cant remember.

[@lorenzomontagna7654]

@@carpediem8752 yeah, some people sell large, ancient proprieties for like one Euro, but then, after you buy them you gotta renovate them, wich can cost you millions of Euros

[@AnimalsGirlful]

nope wherever you are, leave europe alone

[@SnazzyZubloids]

@@lorenzomontagna7654 They do it here in the U.S. as well during urban rehabilitation projects to make certain "undesirable" areas nicer and more attractive. My cousin bought a house from the city for $1, but was given a pretty strict rehab schedule that had to be adhered to in order to own the house. Unfortunately, due to some personal issues a while into the project, he was not able to complete the project and had to forfeit the deed.

[@cynthiahofer2903]

The light was magnificent! Oh, to go there and paint. I can see why the old masters came from Italy. I am so glad these places are getting saved.

[@pinknoise5716]

Such a beautiful place: it feels equally ancient and timeless. The stone buildings, the layout of the buildings, the surrounding natural beauty - it’s all so pleasing to the eye and satisfying to the soul. What an amazing project.

[@Sam-zq4yx]

I’ve stayed in a village just like this a few years ago that had been completely restored by a developer. It was absolutely magical and I now see what a huge job it must have been, especially because it was significanty larger than this village. If anyone wants, I can find the name so you can look it up.

[@Inema7]

I love when I see people save an old structure with hard work and love. These places are unique, timeless, and noble. Without care they eventually fall, with them something very special disappears forever.

[@maxdondada]

Honestly Kirsten, if I ever meet a PBS producer I'm showing them your videos. So beautifully shot and enthralling. You are truly gifted at sharing a patchwork of unique homes and home building stories. I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel looking for "van life" videos months ago.

[@gayletuminello6067]

Asante Freeman Qin

[@ArcAudios77]

Impressed with how Maurizio Cesprini finished the old Building with Plaster. An excellent job in providing Rooms that loose less heat. Great work Maurizio, well done.

[@Javernoss]

What a beautiful home, beautiful village, and beautiful people. This kind of thing is what restored my faith in humanity. When people respect their history, their culture, nature, and really considerate for greater good. I really wish I could do this too one day. Thankyou so much for the video!

[@bluetaurus13]

What a wonderful story. I once had dreams of doing this long ago, but health problems ended those dreams. He is an intelligent and warm man, along with his wife, they are rebuilding not only history, but their own dreams. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@julieelizabeth510]

Maybe you can support this project or other projects, similar to this.

[@obedan3990]

This is a genius project. Rebuilding the old abandoned villages. Love to participate or live there...I wish❤️

[@clray123]

Wait till you hear there's no Internet. No supermarket. No sensible sanitation. No central heating. No jobs around. But lots of bugs and critters to share company with.

[@jamrockprincess]

@@clray123 Sounds like a dream! The first part anyhow! And the bugs and critters can be dealt with easily enough with certain plants and vegetation. :D

[@clray123]

@jamrockprincess Yeah, the sort of dream you wake up from shivering in cold sweat and wishing the night was over.

[@tictoc5443]

What stops you?

[@eirin099]

@@tictoc5443 probably the price "for houses is more complicated but a ruin can cost between 6000€ to 20000€ (plus taxes)."

[@trevordeane3940]

Well done Maurizio and Paola for saving a piece of Italian history. They have worked so hard and in such a beautiful location. The authorities show be fast tracking planning permission to help regenerate rural Italy, not slowing it down which is generally the case.

[@rajabhaduri2020]

you are doing a outstanding project,i am sure you would be able to finish it,best wises to you SENIOR.

[@AlabazterAl]

Absolutely amazing scenery and atmosphere. Love that medieval village vibe

[@AsriaDurden5558]

These old villages are such beautiful, magical places! I am so happy to see someone saving and appreciating them that it brings me to tears. I hope this spreads so all of them can be saved and restored!

[@mikewerndy8556]

Hello Asria

[@ThePalatineHill]

Absolute Respect for this guy and his family

[@mariposa1933]

A M A Z I N G. Always telling my hubby let’s sell our home in Cali and do this. Beautiful home and family,

[@iulianispas8634]

I did same thing as you did with a old house in Romania In the process I learn is much expensive to restore then build a house from scratch

[@magdatanasa9228]

Where in Romania? I'd be interested too

[@3Minato3]

Unde in romania? Casa de lemp presupun

[@alexander1055]

@@WRMRanch In the USA? How old was that building? 50 years? We are talking here about Houses at least 500 years old.

[@alexander1055]

@@WRMRanch It's not cheaper to build from scratch when the House is only 50 Years old. Where I live Houses that are over 100 Years often get renovated, and not just for esthetics.

[@WRMRanch]

WOW ...how lovely

[@firewaterbydesign]

Such a beautiful and meaningful existence. What an honor and labor of love to restore the house and surrounding village. A truly ideal way to raise a family too.

[@plebeiangaming5625]

This is why I love watching videos like this. So much went on in the unknown parts of Europe for the past thousands of years and when you find something like this, it truly feels magical.

[@JeffAM1986]

This place fully restored and modernized as far as plumbing and wiring would be a dream home. Such beautiful bones.

[@pekesrepose7363]

to take on something like this can say more about the person's character than it would about the buildings themselves. after all it's those who have envisioned, constructed and persisted to make or continue a conception like this to start with. -amazing tasks of passion and pride.

[@10XRIEL]

I love their relaxed attitude and preference to learning over finishing in a hurry :)

[@clray123]

It comes naturally when you have no money and the only choice is to continue acting like a hippy or panic outright.

[@enhanced6892]

There is something so powerfully rewarding about doing it with your hands and taming such a beast yourself as opposed to paying for it.

[@gennarosavastano9424]

@@clray123 💯

[@lancedaniels]

just watched this episode again. Very nice to see how this family has built themselves a nice home, and is working with interested people/students to understand traditional building techniques. Nice drone shot at the end.

[@americoestrada2355]

I'm Mexican so I know Spanish and English so I didn't need no subtitles pretty-much understood everything that he was saying which is pretty cool for me. Yay I know Italian lol.

[@blueblazerable]

Because spanish and italian are both Romance language. I'm Filipino and I can understand him around 20% only. (I dont speak spanish or italian :) )

[@drroussakis]

It reminds me of the village of my forefathers in Greece. Very similar architecture and unfortunately very similar fate during the 1900s. Maybe it's time for me to do something about it. Thank you for the video. Very inspiring.

[@davidwardlow721]

Thanks for making videos like this. It's incredible to see people putting their hearts and souls into restoring and saving these buildings and small villages.

[@maximilienrobespierre7927]

What I live the most about this is the layout. How the houses and the alleys are positioned. Simply amazing.

[@markwells6384]

Kirsten, I love your channel. I originally found it because of the shanty boat episode. You find the most unique material and you really get people to talk about their projects in detail. I've watched quite a few now, even stuff I'm not interested in doing myself. I've watched the entire video every time, it's captivating.

[@tixximmi1]

It's great to see these gems won't go to waste. I hope they can renovate the entire complex. It would make a really nice BnB.

[@tamitng]

I. Love. This. 💕 Historic, romantic, beautiful, peaceful. 🌲 Thank You Kirsten! 🍀

[@Draconicrose]

This is amazing and lovely! The lack of railing on their stairs is making me nervous though.

[@juliew1426]

What a beautiful venture. I hope more people will join him in reviving these old villages. That would be such an incredible thing to see in the end; what other creative minds come up with.

[@noproblem2big337]

This video reminds me as a kid in Bagni Di Lucca (Italy) spending summer holidays with the family in a rock home built in the 1700s where my mum was born, lots of happy memories:)

[@Hippabellita1]

Let me put first: 1. I like your videos really a lot and I am a fan and follower since your very early days. 2. I know the zone quite well, not precisely this valley and municipality, but many others in that zone on the Swiss and Italian side of the border including building requirements, cultural and legal realities etc. The important fact, that your documentary is completely excluding, is the question "why did these villages become ghost towns"? And the answer is unfortunately not the simple "make believe" answer Maurizio is trying to provide when saying that it is cheaper to restore an abandoned house than to buy an apartment in the populated spots. There are a few facts to the equation and they are important in order to have a complete picture: 1. Many of these valleys are cut off during winter due to missing services by the state/ local authorities = snow clearing (his place being close to serviced roads, which I am sure is why he chose the place ;-))). As a result, local infrastructure completely broke down (shops/ bars etc.) and these places have become at max. summer holiday villages and are now dying out completely due to political decisions (in CH, you are no longer allowed to buy these houses as "secondary residences") and to the fact that they are an ecological nightmare. 2. The villages are missing a century worth of political and infrastructural development not only but mainly due to certain cultural mindsets. A concrete example to show this more clearly: The Swiss state has invested milliards into modernizing the Gotthard tunnel in order to make access to the Swiss region South of the Alps and to Milan easier by cutting down travel by 1 hour. After decades (!!!) of debates and planning time, Italy has not been able to come up with a plan and budget to modernize its connection to this line that would allow for better access for villages like the one of Maurizio. We are talking about 10 miles of train tracks or public streets to cover ..... 3. In more than a century, the municipalities/ state have not invested into infrastructure such as water, electricity, sewage systems, but oblige you when buying such houses to put such systems into place at own cost ..... this and all the additional requirements make such renovations a very well known money pit; that's why you won't get any bank support for such projects .... and the 25.000 EUR that Maurizio mentioned is not the real number that a "normal" citizen would be pay. 4. Maurizio is well hiding the fact that he is a very well connected with the state and local municipality (he is holding or held a public office), which is one of the 2 very essential keys to this project ... you can get a proof of that when looking at his staircase and the second floor living ... no "normal citizen" would have got a building permit and NOT having to install a hand rail or structural screened in 2nd floor, let alone speaking of adding to the building as he is planning. And I don't want to know about all the other adjustments he made to the building to meet 21st century living conditions. 5. The second essential key to the project is the use of "free labour" by organising summer camps to have students work for free there. If he was honest, he would have put this fact more concretely into his presentation of his projects, instead of stating 25.000 EUR plus 1.000 hours which are definitely NOT including the hours and the net worth of the free work that were put into the project. And this is why the "everybody can do that" is a total delusion from the real facts. I think that the project in itself is extremely interesting and well worth being presented in this channel, but I think the quality of such videos comes not only from a high quality script and visual execution but from a holistic presentation of all the facts that go into and make such projects work.

[@KS-ng9np]

Thank you for your post,it looked too good to be true :(

[@sambulate]

Thanks for your perspective on this. Enlightening!

[@mucsalto8377]

thank you for this post. It is important to tell people that there isn´t such a thing like >one man and his good will will move the earth

[@PixieLove5]

Wow thank you so much for this info!

[@pricklypear7516]

Thank you for giving all these would-be utopians a serious dose of reality. Now if they will only read it . . .

[@anapineu]

What an incredible project. Thank you for honoring the past and making this a learning opportunity for so many.

[@handsinknead77]

It's truly special that they get to do this and live in a part of history. So beautiful and priceless.

[@maryannn3591]

Fantastic story We here in USA moved into an abandoned 1850 log cabin 30 years ago we LOVE the experience and appreciate our ability to resurrect and add onto an old homestead

[@mikewerndy8556]

Hello Maryann

[@conjurerwoman9726]

In America, Detroit has lots of abandoned homes up for sale for little money, but it is not for the faint of heart.

[@KaelSvalcembelk]

Amazing man, his enthusiasm in history is great. Everything can a human do as you can see. Realy positive video, greetings from Czech rep.

[@lyetaherb4703]

I Loved this documentary on rebuilding and bringing back to life an ancient village. Beauty Grace and Strength

[@vancamerawoman7399]

Fantastic....teaching and learning, the young and the elders together. So much brilliant information. Great camera work too!

[@wowtco03]

The best video Kirsten's done in a while, I find. Thank You.

[@philc9305]

Gorgeous place. I love history, design and looks of old architecture.

[@rosannadesole9092]

Congratulations, for the courageous work you have done. The place with those stone houses is fairytale. I hope this village will come back to life with many young couples like you to keep a historical treasure alive.👍👏👏❣️

[@jamesbarr2597]

I restored an abandoned mas in the foothills of the Cevennes in the 90s. Pure Peter Mayle, with sparrows flying above my bed. Such happy memories. There were 40 of us in the hamlet and one of my neighbours went for an evening walk with his pet boar. Another neighbour had a goat herd and made cheese. The fireplace in his kitchen was so large, you sat inside it. Of course, the restoration came with lots of stress, but once finished, it was a work of art. The Artisans who worked on the project were artists. Great memories :)

[@wadeguidry6675]

OMG life is too short. I'm 51 and firmly entrenched into my life here in the USA, but if I was 1/2 my age I'd be trying to figure out how to get to Italy and become this guy's new neighbor. What a fabulously simple and beautiful existence!

[@cvd974]

You're still very young. If you are in good health you should try it. Me and husband are 45 and in 4 years we're selling our New York home and rebuilding a property very similar in Portugal, where he's from.

[@wadeguidry6675]

@@cvd974 : Thanks for the compliment of being young, and I do believe age is only a number, but I have 3 young grandsons and a grandaughter on the way so i believe I'll stay here and watch them grow up.

[@guerrillaentrepreneur5999]

@@wadeguidry6675 Gratz on the granddaughter on the way and for your two grandsons........family first.

[@wadeguidry6675]

@@guerrillaentrepreneur5999 thank you, I saw the first sonogram of my grandaughter yesterday and she appears to be flipping us the bird. Like grandmother, like mother, like grandaughter. Lol.

[@guerrillaentrepreneur5999]

@@wadeguidry6675 Good for her a girl with strength of character and some sass to boot............

[@mayaozen487]

HERMOSO! - Yes, continue to encourage people to save these beautiful towns.

[@vernedudeman]

Can we all please thank Kirsten for her most WONDERFUL and unique contribution to our lives. Ive been following since she only had a few thousand followers like 2012!!! THANK YOU KIRSTEN

[@pepe.sanchez]

Special video. Beautifully shot.

[@maritzanc]

This is a wonderful concept. There's a love for history and the beautiful idea of re-using and considering oneself as a "guest" in these houses is magical. Thank you for doing this, I hope I can visit or live there soon!

[@jimjimgl3]

Such a great video and find for you. And Maurizio the perfect host being so well-spoken and thoughtful.

[@8675-__]

Beautiful job! What a challenge to restore. You've done lovely work. May God bless your journey 😍

[@dlagrua]

An amazing story about restoring and re-purposing a historical village. While the process has it flaws as pointed out, anyway you look at it, its a preservation effort. While Murizio and Paola (my wifes name as well) are rebuilding we need to focus on the positives that without people like this history will be lost and forgotten. That village is in a beautiful area and has a great view of the valley. Many of us would appreciate living there. It is hoped that the entire village will one day come to life again.

[@sylviajones4907]

Thankful for young people that appreciate the past & try to restore using proper methods. Thank you, Kirsten & Co. for reporting on the good things going on in the world & helping us visit them. May God bless you all.

[@mikewerndy8556]

Hello Sylvia

[@mommyseastar5776]

So many moderns are returning to this soulful kind of life. We can regain a closeness to the natural and spiritual world. I think many people are searching for a village like this.

[@vickywatson2779]

This is amazing, I love the respect shown for the history of the buildings .

[@futurecaredesign]

I just wrote the following because of this video: I remember a time visiting an old farmhouse in Portugal, the roof was still on but the building was abandoned for a long time. The bottom floor was dedicated to the animals, there were stalls and a dirt floor. There was also a small kitchen and sink to wash the things needed for working with the animals and to clean up the vegetables before taking them into the real kitchen. The walls were made of dry stacked stone as was the custom in that area. The upstairs was the living quarters and a single room. I wondered why the upstairs was above the animal quarters and realized that the animals would heat the home during the soft Mediterranean winters. Outside there was an open terrace, with a stone wall coming up to the house. The stone wall came up and over for perhaps 40 cm above the level of the house. Down from the wall there was a field for growing vegetables or wheat. Near this small wall was a stone that looked really inviting to sit on and enjoy the view. I sat down and what a view it was! This valley was looooong and slopey, soft and rounded, warm and open. Water was clean and abundant, even in June. To the left of the sitting stone where I had taken my rest there was a metal ring attached to the small wall that edged the terrace. I wondered at this ring. What used to be its function? Why would someone place a ring in this spot? What activity would fit with this scene I had before me? And then, as if I had been there before in a previous life it dawned on me. This was the place where someone would milk their goat! They would wake up every morning, watch the sunrise as they milked their goat and see this beautiful valley come to life. A mutual inter-dependence. One providing safety and comfort, the other providing milk and an ability to manage the land. This person would wake every morning with the birds singing in the background and the smell of their beloved animal close by, giving them what they needed for thriving in a world that seemed able to give for as long as it needed to. But only if you took care of it, took care in it. To take care, to love the village, to love the land, the life that surrounded you, was the highest goal. That was the only thing in the world you would die for, and the beauty was in the fact that you didn't have to.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Thank you so much for your story. I was raised in Barcelona, but both my parents came from small villages in rural Spain (not abandoned, though, nor that would be desired); I can relate what you explain with my own experience. I remember reading "La lluvia amarilla" (Julio Llamazares), about a town that dies 'til the last memories fall from the streets like leaves from trees. Also, "Markens Grøde", a norwegian novel by Knut Hamsun, brought me back to the place of my childhood in those 2 villages during summer. I think we all have Proustian memories, but I think it can also be a contemporary opportunity. We are just 2, 3, 4 generations away from local knowledge being transformed forever. Why not a future of looking forward by celebrating also some good lessons from the past? I wish the buildings of today could age and leave ruins (not waste detached from decomposition such as plastic polymers) like the ones of our elders. Let's never forget that. I also miss my grandparents.

[@futurecaredesign]

@@nicolasboullosa I had a strong feeling of grief in the first 10 minutes of the video above. It must have been heart-wrenching for people to see their beautiful villages empty, young people moving to the city or America as they must have done. These old villages tell tales, even if our ancestors can no longer tell them. I believe there is a lot of wisdom in living so slowly, so deliberately and in touch with what sustains you. But you need some silence to be able to acknowledge wisdom. And who's got the time for silence these days? ^_^

[@teresagoncalves531]

I'm from Portugal, i'd love to do something like this here, i'm absolutely tired of living in the city.. Where was the house, if I may ask?

[@futurecaredesign]

@@teresagoncalves531 I don't remember any names specifically but it was in the central region, towards the border and maybe 40-50km south of Guarda. In general I seemed to be one of the few northern european people that prefered central portugal to the algarve.

[@futurecaredesign]

Ah I remember there was a mountain nearby called Monsanto :)

[@davidschmidt6013]

Beautiful area. Great to maintain the village for future generations. A shame not all countries are so enlightened.

[@TheTubeTube2]

That’s a great doco’ Kirsten, you are so good at this, they are bursting with enthusiasm and bright environmentally sound ideas.

[@laurenmelton8181]

I’m ready to go Work for this guy !!!! Learn the ancient ways , he is living his best life

[@MattRingel]

This is one of my new favorite videos you have made. Thanks for sharing!

[@ericfinkler5570]

I would love to be a part of this. I'd sell everything and move immediately. I'm a skilled carpenter/electrician.

[@chelackie]

Do it!

[@clray123]

But don't bitch that you have "retirement poverty" and other people should pay to support your hobbies a couple decades later.

[@ItUnidentified]

Eric Finkler dude you have a future In many villages!!!

[@foxdylan9536]

There are loads of villages in Spain where you can immigrate & fix

[@F-J.]

Surely you can.

[@chanchoyling4919]

His love and devotion for the place is evident and having students involved in the restoration is a very good learning process. By his careful sensitive restoring and reviving techniques, the village can be a heritage wonder.