I’m Riccardo, an Italian architect engineer in my late 20s. I was born and raised in a small town in northern Italy, between Milan and Como, where I lived for more than 23 years. I studied architecture at Politecnico di Milano, completing both my Bachelor’s and Master of Science there and I have enjoyed Italy between skiing in the mountain and swimming in the sea in Tuscany where my mum is from.

I’m currently working as an architectural designer in Amsterdam for an international architecture office, and I truly like to call this city home. Biking around, sharing everyday life, and meeting open-minded people from all over the world strongly align with my values. Here I share the house with a friend and we like to host friends, backpackers and bikepackers with Coachsurfing or Warmshower.

I live a healthy, active lifestyle and love spending time outdoors: camping, climbing, yoga, cycling or just enjoying the sun. Creativity is also part of my daily life: I play guitar, enjoy photography and design my own tattoos. Overall, I’m a pretty chill person, always happy to slow down with a book and/or share a tea, a meal, or a good conversation with friends.

Travel is an essential part of my life and learning. I try to explore the world as much as I can, always with curiosity and respect. At the moment, I’m on a journey from Ushuaia toward Machu Picchu, slowly finding my way north by hitchhiking and Couchsurfing.

I hope that I can meet you somewhere along this long adventure in South America, you can see where I am at the following Polarstep link :)

Follow me on my trip ‘From The End of The World ’ at https://www.polarsteps.com/Scrattt/23676396-from-the-end-of-the-world?s=7f5a291b-9967-4228-997a-d63653718b22

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I use Couchsurfing because connecting with locals is the most genuine way to understand a place, far beyond what any museum can offer. Culture lives in everyday moments: shared meals, conversations, habits, and small routines.

Hosting, on the other hand, lets me travel without leaving home. Every person brings a new story, a different perspective, and something to learn. Whether we meet for one evening or share a longer time together, I truly believe there’s always something to gain from each other, especially when we listen as much as we speak.

Interests

I enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle: yoga everyday and rock climbing as much as my fingers can. When the environment is ideal I love to surf and ski (I’ve recently gotten into sailing as well). I really love being outdoors, feeling the sun on my skin, and spending as much time as possible, preferably hiking and camping in the nature.

I’m into slow travel: staying longer in places, sharing everyday moments, and experiencing local life beyond tourist routes. I like to cook and sharing it: trying to combine what I learn from my trips in an healthy and nutritious meal.

For mindfulness I do journaling everyday. I play guitar, enjoy photography, and like working on personal projects such as designing my own tattoos, turning experiences into small stories. I also like to combine my work as an architect with volunteering in construction projects around the world, using my skills in a hands-on way to connect with communities and places.

• architecture
• photography
• tattoos
• yoga
• running
• guitar
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• surfing
• sailing
• skiing
• hitchhiking
• volunteering
• biking
• chilling
• exploring
• mindfulness
• climbing
• healthy lifestyle
• calisthenics
• biohacking
• one piece

Music, Movies, and Books

Music and books play an important role in my everyday life. I like setting the mood of a space with playful playlists, and over the years I’ve collected many of them: discovering new music through friends and through the places I’ve visited. I enjoy sharing them, and I also play guitar. In the past years I’ve written a few songs that I like to play when the moment feels right.

I also read a lot. I really appreciate metaphoric and spiritual journeys like The Alchemist or Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. At the same time, I enjoy books about personal growth and understanding the world, such as Atomic Habits or Sapiens. On the fun side, I’m still following One Piece, reading every new chapter as it comes out.

I used to watch a lot of movies, TV series, and anime, but working as an architect already means a lot of screen time: so in my free time I mostly avoid it, with the occasional exception of a good documentary.

https://open.spotify.com/user/ricky.persico?si=wyATtaEXRs2Vjpi4pw2GAw

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My travels are mostly slow: I walked the Camino de Santiago all the way to the ocean in Fisterra, bikepacked across parts of Northern Europe, and spent time exploring North India, letting everyday encounters guide the journey.

One of my most meaningful experiences was volunteering in rural Kenya, where I helped design and build a kitchen for a local NGO in the middle of the jungle: working on site with very simple tools and adapting everything to what was available. After that, I backpacked through Tanzania, deepening my connection with the region and its people.

I’ve hitchhiked along the Moroccan coastline chasing waves and ended up surfing one of the most beautiful waves of my life. I also multipitch rock climbed Pão de Açúcar in Brazil, following the Via Dos Italianos, my best rock climbing effort.

I’ve also done a couple of van trips across Europe, enjoying the freedom of slow roads and spontaneous stops: exploring Portugal, the villages and vineyards of Alsace, he Black Forest in Germany, and the alpine landscapes of Austria.

Teach, Learn, Share

I’m curious by nature and I try to learn something every day, even if it’s small: a new recipe, a different point of view, or a life lesson shared by a friend. I love learning about different lifestyles, cultures, and perspectives through real conversations and everyday moments.

At a certain point in Italy, I started feeling a bit stuck. I realized I wasn’t learning or growing as much as before, and I truly believe that becoming a better person means continuing to learn and improve every day.

That’s why I decided to move to Amsterdam, leaving Italy behind for a while and embracing the wind, the bikes, and the constant flow of new people. Living here often feels like being in a hostel every day: meeting people from all over the world, exchanging ideas, and learning from their openness. This is one of the main reasons I now call this place home.

I believe all of this can only happen through sharing experiences with the people around us. Whether it’s for one day or one year, I’m convinced we can always learn something from everyone we meet.

What I Can Share with Hosts

What I love to share most is time and simple moments together. I really enjoy cooking, especially cooking together, experimenting with healthy meals while learning from local traditions. Preparing food side by side is one of my favorite ways to connect.

I also enjoy slowing down: sitting at a table with a tea, sharing stories, or going for a stroll (or even better, a bike ride) to discover corners and everyday places that only locals usually know.

I always offer respect, to the people, the house, and the environment, and I truly value receiving the same in return. I’m also very comfortable giving space: if you’re busy, I’m happy to let you flow through your day while I explore the city on my own. And when the day winds down, I’m always glad to take care of dinner or share a relaxed moment together.

And if there’s a guitar around, I’m happy to play a bit of music and add a nice soundtrack to the evening.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, Netherlands