Situated in western Liguria near the border with France, ecovillage Torri Superiore is a medieval fortress of towers and thick walls, shaded passageways and connected rooms. I stayed there for a couple of weeks helping out in the gardens and the kitchen, and getting my first experience of living in a communal setting.

As well as carrying out ongoing projects including farming and olive harvesting on terraces along the valley, alternative technology research, permaculture, pottery and other crafts, Torri Superiore also offers holiday accommodation to the walkers that pass, or to those who are looking for a different kind of holiday experience.

The ecovillage and guest house are managed by a resident community of about thirty people, both families and individuals. A Cultural Association, composed of members of the community as well as others who live outside of the ecovillage provides guidance, debate and resources for the overall direction of the project.

The ecovillage takes volunteers and paying guests from early spring through to the end of the year. A campsite is also open on adjoining land, so in high season there can be eighty or more people arriving each night for dinner. Eating (and some drinking) takes place at shared tables in the communal dining rooms, or outside on the terrace.

Meals are made by members of the community, who each take turns to prepare breakfast, make lunch or cook in the evening.

The passageways and vaulted rooms of Torri Superiore are heavy with character. The complex was built over many years in stages, with stairways and rooms seemingly added as needed rather than following any thought-out plan. This organic approach to its construction has resulted in a labyrinthine, three-dimensional plan: at the beginning of my stay I would often turn a corner to find myself a whole floor above where I wanted to be.

Many of the rooms have now been rebuilt from their dilapidated state, but there is still much more to do. Carrying out work in an environmentally sound way while also trying to incorporate modern low energy technology can make for slow progress sometimes.

I found Torri Superiore to be a great model of communal living. I think that in general it succeeds because it follows Daniel Quinn's definition of a healthy, successful community: each resident brings their own skills and responsibilities to the project, contributing something invaluable to the whole. The residents at Torri share many common goals, politics and ethics, but that it is the focus on the guest house and the quality of day to day life that is the glue of Torri Superiore.