Meet the couple who travelled Europe to learn eco skills and are now putting down roots in Italy

Their adventures in France and Portugal taught ‘Growing Greener’ how to create an eco-lodge built around nature, sharing and community.

Living in the tumult of the city, who among us hasn’t wondered if we’re really marching to the beat of our own drum?

Naples’ nightlife brought Francesca Tortorelli and Eliza Cox together in 2020. But the couple, a video editor from a town near Salerno and an English teacher from Nottingham, became disenchanted with the big city, in contrast to the fulfilment they found away on camping trips.

The determined duo decided to act on their dissatisfaction. In September 2022, they embarked on a year of travelling and volunteering in Europe while refining their dream of opening up an eco-lodge in southern Italy.

“It broke life down to the simple things,” Eliza (23) says of those experiences on eco-retreats. “Just those simple rhythms of life with all the other chaos and drama taken away, in a community of other volunteers. It was a really, really special experience and taught us a lot.”

Eliza and Francesca found a “different rhythm of life” on their year away, spending time outdoors and connecting with nature.
Eliza and Francesca found a “different rhythm of life” on their year away, spending time outdoors and connecting with nature.Growing Greener
Now living in the small town of Perdifumo in south-west Italy, they’re working towards their goal while connecting with the local community to make their future destination as inclusive and sustainable as possible.

We caught up with Francesca and Eliza – aka ‘Growing Greener’ – to hear about their journey and what it takes to create a truly communal tourism experience.