In December 1972 a group of young people from over 10 European countries hold a meeting in Basel with the aim of "creating experimental zones as expressions of a Europe in solidarity, communities of peace and democracy, which are self-sustaining due to agriculture, handicraft and manufactured products derived from the communities." This essay – based mainly on the book written by Beatriz Graf in 2006 and on an interview made with Heike Schiebeck in the summer of 2012 – tries to give an overall picture about the rich story of the Longo Mai Cooperatives.