Gaia Pellegrini

Coming from a family of humble workers and farmers, I was always raised to respect the environment and the value of non-consumerism. From my earliest walks in the woods, I learned to recognize plants and animals, and I watched my grandparents grow all kinds of vegetables, learning to taste the delicious homemade tomato purees, fresh pasta, and beans that we grew. In daily life, when I cannot enjoy the delicacies of the Italian countryside, I try to do my part by avoiding unnecessary purchases, buying secondhand, and mending my own clothes. I try to think with a minimalist mindset (‘Do I really need this?’) that I apply in a variety of areas of my life. I am a huge fan of slow travel, which allows me to pollute less and enjoy more of nature. A ‘pilgrim’ by name and by deed, I have walked the Camino de Santiago in solitude, on foot, from Porto to Santiago, and the Via Francigena in Italy, from Aulla to Siena, covering a total of about 500 km of the ancient pilgrims’ ways.

In my ideal future, choosing to live in the city does not mean choosing to live in the dreariness of pollution, eating over-processed foods, but staying equally in touch with nature, with fresh and natural food products, and surrounded by a healthy and livable environment. My dream is to be able to feel as alive and connected to nature in a city as I have been in the Bolivian wilderness.