Projects

Projects with heart

CREATING SUSTAINABILITY

FINDING OUR STRENGTHS

CREATING TOGETHER

WATER IS OUR ELEMENT

LIVING TOGETHER WITH NATURE

SPIRITUALITY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Arca Tentyris is part of the Federation of Communities of Damanhur, which in 1975 developed a community model of life in Italy and then spread in different parts of the world: Croatia, Norway, Spain, Australia…

The community seen both as living together, in which the members carry on a model of self-sufficient society, in connection with the territory and with a cultural and spiritual autonomy, and as a way of developing projects related to work, education, of being together and so on.

The need for alternative social models to the mainstream system based on consumption, finance and pollution is increasingly felt. The alternative models based on small settlements, connected in a solidarity network and based on the direct relationship between people. Living together and creating communities is an exciting and demanding commitment, which must be carefully designed and developed without improvisation. There are many evidenced from numerous groups that stay together for a few years and then dissolved because something has gone wrong. It is crucial to learn from groups that stayed together after many years.

Here you can discover the projects we carry out to make a better world.

Home Renovation of ECO

The family in charge:
The family is called ECO and exists since 1999, when a group of Damanhurians were attracted by the characteristics of the territory, its energetic frequency and emanating beauty. From that time, when there was only small house to renovate, the dream brought them expand the living spaces and territory until they were able to acquire old ruins and enough land to be able to create an actual spiritual village: Borgo Mateco.

They are currently 12 adults and a child with occasional guests, cats, and dogs. ECO is located in Valchiusella, about 7 minutes by car from DamanhurCrea in Vidracco (an important meeting place and reference point for Damanhur), which can also be easily reached by bicycle. As proper Italians, they like homemade pizza and to invite friends over the weekend as an opportunity for exchange.

The project:
The biggest dream for now is to create a complete spiritual village! In the area there are still several ruins, a large house, and a smaller one to be renovated. The territory also includes many different corners that can inspire the life and characteristics of the Borgo in many ways.

There is ample space for everyone to participate in the collective initiative, and simultaneously carry out the individual missions of those who want to join us! Utilizing the current incentive by the Italian government called “Bonus 110,” we want to renovate the house closest to ours so we may give other people the opportunity to live in such a spiritual community.

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Tesan Settlement

The family in charge:
The group promoting the initiative is currently made up of three people who live in Alteco – in the area of Borgo Mateco – accompanied by their hens, geese, peacocks, quails, and four other people who live in different Damanhurian homes and… soon enough those who will join them to complete the group!

Currently, Tesan is not inhabited. After many years of being abandoned, it is awaiting the energy and structural interventions necessary to accommodate many people; the expectation is that the first settlements can take place by the end of 2023.

The project:
Tesan is currently the main expansion project of the Community of Arca Tentyris. The name, in the ancient Etruscan language, indicates the moment of sunrise (in Damanhurian homes coexist original names with names of cultures from the past) and highlights the position of the house, which today is the house with the highest altitude of the whole community. It is situated in the area of Val di Chy, exactly halfway between the villages of Lugnacco and Pecco.

The house was built in the 1960s, on four levels and will be able to accommodate up to a dozen people, plus spaces for hospitality, and workshops and activities on the ground floor. It is a place that will be open not only to citizens of the community, but also to those of the Valley. Its location, on the detour road that connects the inhabited centers of this area, makes it an ideal place to host services to the public.

The house is surrounded by a courtyard of about half a hectare, abundant with fruit trees and spaces for animals. Within the radius of one kilometer (0.6 miles), there are also woods, a destination much appreciated by lovers of mountain biking, horseback riding, and trekking.

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Agorà

Families in charge:
There are two families collaborating on this project, Dendera and Magilla. Magilla was the first permanent settlement in the Val di Chy area in the 1980s. A technologically advanced residence was born from an 18th-century farmhouse in the center of an area characterized by the large presence of water and large ancient rocks. In the 2000s, the family of Magilla built with their own hands another home nearby with sustainable architecture called Dendera. Together, the two families, sharing this beautiful territory surrounded by nature oversee the project of Agorà.

The project:
Over the last six years, the structure was built, and the first floor of the Agorà was completed, a 75m2 hall for courses, schools, meetings, and exchange. The name Agorà, originates from ancient Greek culture representing a central public space in cities. In order to finish the construction, it is necessary to complete the second floor consisting of 4 rooms with private bathrooms. If you have skills in carpentry, plumbing, or electrical systems, or you are simply good with your hands, we would be more than happy to meet you.

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Piana del Lago & the International Village

The family in charge:
Casa del Lago is a rustic and well-kept country house; a stone's throw away from other Damanhurian nucleos. There are actually two houses, built partly of stone and partly of wood, obtained by recovering an old farmhouse.

It is a cozy place that welcomes a small group of people: there are currently six inhabitants. They experience a coherent and exportable model of community life, family-run, where care for the territory and beauty go hand-in-hand. Their goal is to encourage the creation of spaces dedicated to the sense of well-being and international projects.

The territory is magical, the spirits of nature are very present, and the stars seem close and determined on opening doors of communication between different dimensions.

The project:
It's very ambitious. It starts from an area called the Piana del Lago, land that we want to transform into an activity managed according to the principles of permaculture (regenerative cultivation), that arrives adjacent to Casa del Lago. The intention is to then transform Casa del Lago into a house dedicated to hospitality, and if possible, with an adequate campsite to be immersed in the green. This structure could also support the sustainable activities of the Piana del Lago. With this tangible initiative, we would like to bring young people from all over the world who want to experience community life.

Nearby, there is an area with a series of rustic buildings known as “International Village,” we want to build residential structures with very low environmental impact and cutting-edge technologies from the point of view of energy saving.

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COMMUNITY LIFE CAMPUS

This program is directed to those who desire to experience the communitarian lifestyle. A one month experience touching human, social and spiritual values of Arca Tentyris to acquire practical tools for co-living and sharing. An experience open to all, especially young adults.

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SELF-SUSTAINABILITY

We research, experiment and apply in the field of renewable energy - solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, hydraulic - and development of bio-compatible livestock, beekeeping, and communication with the plant world.

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THE ART OF LIVING TOGETHER

How to create and manage a community: starting with a direct experience living with us in Arca Tentyris, the organization of a Training Campus, exchange, implementation of "know-how" in realizing intentional communities.

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