A quiet rural hotel in Tuscany with terraces looking out over hills, hamlets and olive groves is also a thriving experiment in solving at least part of the world refugee crisis.
Villaggio La Brocchi is one of two hotels set up by Italian authorities to provide both housing and work for refugee families. It's become an exciting mixture of Tuscan views, food that blends Italian and East African cuisines and home for 38 refugee families. The hotel's food also provides opportunities for locals to mingle with refugees and learn more.
The buildings, part of a former cattle farm, were empty and abandoned when they were chosen for the hotel by Italy's Interior Ministry. Guests occupy one building, paying rates from €25 a night for B&B dorm accommodations; the families live in apartments with shared kitchens in the other buildings.
Efforts to build community include a library and conference room, as well as classrooms and Italian language lessons. And, for the locals, there are cooking classes offering the opportunity to learn to keep dishes from Syria, Ethiopia, Eritrea and more.
For a longer article in The Guardian (UK) click HERE
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