Agriturismo Farm Stays in Italy

If you have already fallen in love with Italy and want to experience the land of sun and wine on a new level, then it’s time to plan a trip to the regions.

Passing through Italy on a high-speed train, you must have noticed that something is grown almost throughout the entire territory, agriculture is flourishing here! There are thousands of interesting places in Italy and you can explore the country endlessly.

Agrotourism (Agriturismo) is a very popular topic among Italians, but almost no one knows about it among Russian-speaking travelers. Or they know but are afraid to try.

But you, our dear reader, are not a faceless mass tourist. On the contrary, you want to discover and know your Italy.

History of the development of agritourism in Italy

The idea of rural tourism appeared in 1965 when the manifesto of Agritourism (la costituzione dell’Agriturist) was adopted. Conferences, press interviews, and “green days” on the farm were held, and open days (gates) were organized for those who were interested in agriculture.

The first farmhouse was officially registered in 1973 in the autonomous province of Trento. In the same year, South Tyrol passed the Rural Tourism Development Act, which included measures to support the farmhouse for the first time.

In 1975, the Veneto and Campagna regions created incentive laws to develop rural tourism. As a result, the first edition of the Guide to Rural Hospitality (Guida dell’Ospitalità Rurale) was published, featuring 80 farms equipped to host tourists.

10 years later, on December 5, 1985, the government of the Italian Republic signed a law that determined the rules for conducting agritourism activities for farmers. As a result, there were 6,000 registered companies, 55,000 beds, and a discounted annual turnover of around 108 million euros (210 billion lire).

At the end of 1991, a special tax regime for agritourism was introduced, which came into force on January 1, 1992, which allows the calculation of taxable income at a single simplified rate of 25%. An interesting fact is that in Sicily, the legal framework for this law was tightened only in 1994.

In 1998, 8,500 and 125,000 beds were already registered. As a result, discounted turnover of Italian farmhouses rises to 495 million euros (960 billion lire). The following year, the milestone of two million overnight stays was exceeded.

Tourist farmsteads in Italy in 2001 crossed another important milestone – 10,000 companies. The leading regions are always Trentino-Alto Adige (2500 farmhouses), Tuscany (2100), and Veneto (730).

Is Farm Stays Holidays right for you?

Agritourism in Italy is for you if you:

1. Already visited Rome, Florence, Venice, and other popular cities.
2. Love Italian cuisine
3. Love nature and privacy

I warn you! Having tried this type of holiday and traveled once, you will want to return to Italy at every opportunity. I warned you.

What is unique about Agriturismo?

Why do I love agritourism in Italy? I highlight three factors:

1. The opportunity to be alone with nature – admire the scenery, listen to the birds singing, breathe fresh air.
2. Delicious organic food. There are often very authentic, inexpensive family restaurants on farms or nearby.
3. Almost always, the owners of houses are very friendly, warm-hearted people who are happy to show and tell about their business. My acquaintance with many farmers turned into friendship, and we are pleased to return.

Here is a video of our favorite farmhouse in Umbria.

My friends and I come here several times a year, and in 2019 I even decided to celebrate my birthday here.

What is the price

Agritourism is most often a relatively economical form of recreation. For example, accommodation and car rental will cost 500 EUR per week, and you will spend from 200 to 500 EUR on food.

Accommodation

Accommodation at a farmhouse costs on average from 50 to 80 EUR per night for 2-3 people, of course, there are more economical or luxurious options – the choice is yours.

Car rental

Renting a car will cost about 200 EUR per week. An international driver’s license is not required but may be helpful. Rent a car at www.rentalcars.com

With fuel consumption of 7 liters per hundred kilometers, considering the fuel price is about 1.6 EUR, a thousand kilometers of travel will cost you 112 EUR.

Food

Breakfasts on farms are most often included in the accommodation price or offered optionally. If you buy food and cook on your own, you can meet 200 EUR for a week together. On the other hand, eating in restaurants and tasting local delicacies is worth planning food expenses around 500 EUR per week for two.

How to plan your vacation

For agritourism, it is ideal to come to Italy for one to two weeks. However, the general recommendation is to spend at least a week in each region. 

There are three strategies:

1. Travel from north to south of Italy or vice versa, staying at each farmhouse for a maximum of 2 nights. Thus, within 2 weeks, you will visit many regions, but there is a risk of being overwhelmed with impressions and getting tired.
2. Choose one or two houses, and calmly explore the surroundings nearby. Then, we set a goal to explore a particular region, for example, Tuscany or Abruzzo, and travel all week through it.
3.  Find a balance between the first two strategies. Take 3 regions for 2 weeks to study.

Tourists tend to choose the second option, but I recommend focusing on a maximum of two regions.

How to choose and book an accommodation

Booking.com is the most trusted site for booking holidays in Italy. Alternative sites should only be considered as a last resort. I will show you an example of how to find a beautiful and reliable farmhouse on your own, where you will definitely be accepted and not deceived.

Follow this link for booking – pay attention to the filters I applied.

 

• Accommodation type: Farm stays
• Location rating: 9+
• Review: 8+

Then you can take the region you are interested in, for example, Tuscany, and watch Agriturismo on vacation there. Please pay attention to the reviews, as they often contain travelers’ helpful tips and life hacks.

When to come

The best time to visit rural Italy is from May to September.

South of Rome, in the regions of Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata, Puglia, and Campania, is comfortable also in April and October.

Do you want to be completely alone? Head between November and March to the islands of Sicily or Sardinia. No tourists, prices are minimal, and all sights will be for you only.

Where to go for the first time

The obvious choice is Tuscany. However, my personal choice is Sicily, Umbria, and Abruzzo.

If you need advice on vacations in rural Italy, I will be happy to answer your questions in the comments.