A Swiss family ventures a new beginning in Sicily

When the early morning light of Sicily casts its golden glow over the hillsides, the day often begins for Raffael Müller, 46, and Nadia Saccavino, 41, with the voices of their children Amael, 14, and Malea, 11, and the scent of lemons. However, the story of the Müller Saccavino family begins in Basel, where they led a seemingly perfect life: an affordable cooperative flat on the Rhine, careers in social work and a regular family routine.

However, the parents' longing for more freedom, nature and self-determination is growing. «We had been dreaming of travelling and letting the children learn freely for a long time,» says Nadia. With their children, who were still small at the time, they travelled to Asia several times until they finally set off on a year-long sabbatical through South-East Europe and South-East Asia in 2019.

The break has a profound effect on them: they experience adventures, uncertainties, moments of closeness – and the realisation that life could be different. That happiness does not depend on consumption and possessions, but on shared experiences, time and genuine encounters.

A plot of land with its own spring

Back in Switzerland, they realise that their old life no longer suits them. The desire to lead a self-determined life becomes increasingly urgent. By chance – or fate – in the summer of 2020, a year after their trip to Asia, they finally end up in Sicily: a friend they met on an alp sends them photos of a property with its own spring, lemon trees and prickly pears.

Nadia and Raffael travel to Sicily for two nights, sleep in a tent, eat tomatoes straight from the vine and instantly fall in love with the place: «It was immediately clear that this was the place for us,» they both say. But the road ahead is rocky: money is tight, buying a house is expensive and their plans are vague. Nevertheless, the whole family is excited about the unknown.

Strangers join in, becoming helpers and, in some cases, new friends.

They live in Switzerland for another year, saving money, foregoing luxuries and investing every penny in their Sicilian dream. Then, with a motorhome, children, parents-in-law and their first friends, the great adventure begins in the summer of 2021. The first few months are difficult. The family has to improvise constantly: they live in a motorhome, walk steep paths to the house and cook in a very small space.

Building with the help of YouTube videos

Guests arrive right from the start, first friends, then strangers, who become helpers and some of them new friends. «Sometimes we cooked for 20 people,» Nadia recalls with a laugh. There is plenty of work to do: tending olive groves, pruning trees, building a communal terrace. Building the house becomes a community project, often guided by YouTube videos, with lots of enthusiasm and little experience.

«We had no idea about construction,» says Raffael, «but we studied social work – that helps with networking.» Win-win situations arise: those who help are allowed to stay, learn new things and get involved. Guests become friends. «The sum is greater than the individual parts,» says Nadia.

Father Raffael fights for his life

The fact that Raffael is standing in front of a finished house today is not a matter of course. In 2008, after only three years with Nadia, he suffered from endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner wall of the heart, which remained undetected for a long time and required emergency surgery. «At the time, they said my chances of survival were 50-50,» Raffael recalls. He survived and now knows that «life is finite. If you want something, you have to do it now.»

In 2024, the father of the family has to undergo heart surgery again. This happens right in the middle of building their house. He is not allowed to lift anything for three months. The community supports them even in these difficult times. A cardiologist becomes a friend, guests take on tasks, and Nadia grows into the role of construction manager.

Emerging stronger from the crises

There are moments of exhaustion and doubt, but also deep gratitude. «We couldn't have kept going much longer,» says Raffael, looking back. «But now we can breathe a sigh of relief.» Today, he is grateful for this experience. The difficult times brought the family closer together and strengthened their resolve to live as freely and independently as possible.

Malea says: «It was difficult at first because we moved around a lot. First in a motorhome, then in a house that wasn't finished yet. But I've made lots of friends here. It's nice tobe surrounded by nature and play outsidea lot ."Amael adds: "I like that I can learn freely whenever I want. And I'm already looking forward to the slide we want to build by the pool.»

Another luxury

The heart of their new life lies in community: Nadia and Raffael have welcomed over 450 guests in the last four years. Helpers of all ages who pitch in for board and lodging, build houses, harvest olives or simply become part of everyday life.

The list of joyful stories is long: an 83-year-old grandmother who jumps naked into the pool after the olive harvest. Young people on a «timeout» who find new perspectives. Visitors who become friends and return.

Wealth lies in community, in children learning freely and in living according to the rhythm of the seasons.

Economically, the family relies on several sources of income: donations from visitors, online coaching, and handmade products such as olive oil, liqueurs, jams and soaps, which they sell at Swiss markets. «We live simply, but it's actually a luxury: freedom, nature, community,» says Nadia.

There is a lot of work to do, and it is hard. Money is often tight – but wealth lies in the community, in living according to the rhythm of the seasons, in the children's free learning and in the many shared experiences.

Challenges and insights

Nadia and Raffael have learned to take responsibility – for themselves, their children, water and land, education, health and finances. «You grow with the challenges. But you also learn that paradise is not a permanent state. Difficult times always come again,» says Nadia.

Setbacks – whether bureaucracy, uncertainty or illness – are part of life. But so is the realisation that circles often only close in retrospect: Raffael, who played an olive farmer in a Sicilian play as a student, now actually sells olive oil. Nadia, who drew dream houses with slides as a child, is getting her slide by the pool.

Entered into life

What remains is the experience that courage is always rewarded. «We didn't drop out, we got in – into life, into personal responsibility and into the community,» says Nadia, adding: «We want to share our place of power with people who need a break and want to take time to develop new perspectives.»

Their journey shows that a desire for change and greater freedom can lead to a life that brings deep satisfaction – and that happiness often appears where you least expect it: among olive trees and around a table with family and friends. When the sun sets over Sicily in the evening, Nadia and Raffael know that they would do it all again.