Pranamare is a community rooted in the vision of Lucilla, Alessandro, Matteo, and Giulia, a group of friends from Florence. Their inspiration was born during a trip to Peru, where they began imagining a different life, more attuned to nature and far from the constraints of city life. This adventure planted the seed for a community project that would embody their values of sustainability and genuine self-expression.

With support from Don Bruno Frediani, the priest of Torcigliano, the group was given free accommodation in the church rectory in exchange for tending to the olive grove and maintaining the organic garden. Today, Pranamare is an intentional community hosting eight young people who share a common dream: to build a community based on universal love and mutual support, laying the foundation for a more conscious and connected new humanity.

Shared and Private Spaces

The Pranamare community has designed different spaces to maintain a balance between private areas and shared zones. The “mother house” is the original site, while the former rectory, now called the “grandmother house” for its historical value, was later provided to the community. The ground floor holds common areas – including the kitchen, living room, and laundry – while the first floor is reserved for guest rooms and volunteers, used for workshops and events. This setup helps create a harmonious environment, balancing privacy with community life.

The Educational Project "Educating to Essence"

One of Pranamare’s most significant initiatives is its educational project for children aged 2 to 6, carried out in collaboration with the association: Taleia, Educare all’Essenza ( Educating to Essence). This innovative program emphasizes key values like connection to nature, emotional intelligence, and artistic expression.

Through outdoor, practical, and creative activities, children learn to explore, respect, and understand the natural environment, while developing their expressive abilities. The primary aim is to guide each child to discover their essence, creating a learning space where curiosity and mutual learning lie at the heart of the educational journey.

Life Lessons from Community Living

For Pranamare, community life represents a return to the roots. Each member is encouraged to reconnect with the deep bond between the individual and the environment, recognizing that everyone is an essential part of a single collective organism. Within the community, interpersonal challenges and relationships encourage each member to engage in self-reflection. People who may initially seem distant often become catalysts for personal growth.

In doing so, At Pranamare, community life becomes an opportunity to overcome fears and prejudices, discovering personal empowerment that flourishes through collective support.

Economic and Decision-Making System

At Pranamare, they adopt a mixed economic system, where each resident has their personal income but also contributes to the collective economy by maintaining individual work. Common income is generated through workshops, laboratories, and concerts, funds that help cover material costs and utilities.

Decisions and organization are based on a circular model: members meet regularly to discuss priorities and set short, medium, and long-term goals. Everyone’s opinion matters for the final choice, and a “focalizer” is designated for each area to monitor and propose necessary actions.

Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability

One of Pranamare's core values is the importance of honoring roots through the rediscovery of ancient crafts and traditions. Community members engage in activities like wool work, sewing, and tending the organic garden. To move closer to self-sufficiency, the community focuses on self-production, creating herbal products, agricultural goods, and clothing through DIY techniques like eco-printing.

Pranamare is an invitation to rediscover the lost harmony with the Planet, a journey toward a lifestyle where environmental impact is reduced and our connection to Earth is strengthened. It’s not just about living sustainably, but about embracing a way of life that roots us deeply in natural cycles, teaching us to breathe with the world around us and reminding us that every action can be an act of care toward the wonderful Planet that hosts us.

Volunteering at Pranamare

The Pranamare community opens its doors to those who want to experience community life through volunteering. Volunteers actively participate in daily activities like tending the garden, maintaining spaces, and organizing events, while living closely with nature and sustainable values. To apply, follow the community's social media where application dates are announced, and submit a brief presentation during the application period. This is a unique opportunity to experience the power of sharing and collaboration while having fun.

In a Nutshell

Pranamare is a young ecovillage nestled in the ancient village of Torcigliano, in Tuscany. It demonstrates how a shared, authentic, and determined vision, with a little universal support, can turn an ideal into reality. These young people offer an alternative to the frenzy of city life, promoting a lifestyle based on love, solidarity, and deep connection to nature. Pranamare is not just a community living project; it’s a concrete example that inspires everyone who visits, showing that another way of living is possible, and that each person can contribute their unique gifts to empower a new humanity.