Agriturismos in Tuscany and Umbria: 2003
The Tuscan sun is particularly easy to enjoy when bathing in the hospitality of a rural farmhouse. What is your experience staying at Agriturismos in rural Italy? What is your favorite and why?
Italian Agriturismos
I just got home from a great trip through Tuscany, and we stayed in two
wonderful agriturismos! Below Siena we stayed at Il Columbiao, and in Chianti
we stayed at Casa Mazuola. Great people! Beautiful, quiet places in the
countryside! Lots of castles and hilltowns to explore! Check out their websites:
www.mezzuola.com and www.toscanaholiday.com.
Gail Swanson
Kihei, HI USA Fri 10/03/2003
Agriturismo near Deruta
My husband and I stayed in a great agriturismo just outside Deruta
called Antica Fattoria del Colle: www.anticafattoriadelcolle.it. The food
was terrific, if a bit heavy, and the host was great at explaining all the
regional specialties. Deruta is famous for ceramics. I decided to go there
after reading Laura Morelli's book, Made in Italy, A Shopper's Guide to
Italy's Best Artisanal Traditions from Murano Glass to Ceramics, Jewelry,
Leather Goods and More. Also worth a read if you're going to Italy.
Camille
Westport, CT USA Mon 08/18/2003
Agriturismos
my husband and I, along with another couple, spent six nights at I
Barronci (www.ibarronci.com)in the Tuscany countryside. The rooms were perfect.
We shared a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a full-service kitchen.
A washing machine was included. And at night, it was pitch black and deadly
quiet?ideal for sleeping. The hosts were delightful. They answered questions,
made recommendations and when they found out we were celebrating birthdays
on the trip, they threw an impromptu party. The views from the grounds are
postcard perfect. We watched georgous sunsets from our windows every night.
The location is central to everything we wanted to visit in Tuscany. We
all agree that if we have a chance to visit Italy again, we will stay here.
Yvonne
Portland, OR USA Mon 07/21/2003
Il Bergamotto, in Italy's Greek Calabria
Fox
Monterosso al Mare, sp Italy Sun 07/13/2003
Lovely Panzano estate
In June of last year, we enjoyed a wonderful stay at Il Palagio in Panzano,
a small hilltown very nicely located in Chianti between Florence and Siena
and within driving distance of San Gimignano, Greve in Chianti and other
popular spots. This agriturismo is very well run by the family that owns
it. The apartments are charming and the grounds are lovely. The pool looks
out over a sweeping Chianti view of vineyards and lovely countryside. We
stayed in the apartment Melograno, which for a family with one or two children
works very well because of the quiet yard beside it that no other guests
seem to use. You can easily walk into Panzano for breakfast pastries or
a dinner at one of the small but nice restaurants and there are several
little groceries, plus two butchers and a produce store to stock your kitchen.
You can find out more about Il Palagio by searching on the name InfoChianti.
We loved the entire experience.
Shelly
Seattle, WA USA Tue 07/01/2003
Bologna
If you're planning on driving south of Bologna through Pianoro, a great
little place to stay is La Torazza http://www.latorazza.com Although it's
called a B&B, it's really an agriturismo and Sr Giuseppe is a wonderful
host and it's very reasonably priced.
Gerald Blakely
Morgantown, WV USA Thu 06/26/2003
Agriturismo in Liguria
We just enjoyed 4 days at Villa Giandriale in Liguria, about 30-45 minutes
inland from St. Margarita Ligure. Giandriale is in Tavarone, a very small
village in the hills. Nereo, the owner, farms cattle and vegetables for
the guests and family. I found this place through the Karen Brown Italy
B&B guide. It is very charming, but it is quite remote. There is great terrain
for hiking and mountain biking from the farm property. Children would definitely
enjoy the farm. The dinners are delicious, fresh, country cooking. The altitude
is about 2500 ft., so evenings are very comfortable. Nereo and Lucia speak
some English and have a pretty good web site. It is even feasible to day
trip to the Cinque Terre from here. It would be a great way to recover from
the hordes of tourists all over the Cinque Terre. The web site is at www.giandriale.it/
Liz
Seattle, USA Mon 06/16/2003
La Volpaia in Tuscany
Last September my husband and I were in Italy for 3 weeks. The best place
we stayed was an agristuismo in a small town in Tuscany. "La Volpaia" in
Vico d'Elsa...Fax#+39 055 8073170. For 200 euro you get to stay in a beautiful
restored stone house originally built in 1521. The country side is breathtaking,
there is a great pool and horseback riding . You also get a wonderful breakfast
and the best 5 star dinner you have ever had. Be sure to rent a car. La
Volpaia is centrally located....an hour and a half from Florence....15 minutes
to San Gimignano...2 hours to Pisa and Lucca...40 minutes to Siena...and
you are surrounded by some of the best Chianti tasting. Silvia and Andrea
are the most gracious of hosts. Very helpful and they speak English for
all of us who never picked up that secound language. If you give them a
fax they will send a great brochure. Thanks and have a great trip.
Liz A
Roseville, CA USA Sat 06/14/2003
Spannocchia
I worked on an agriturismo about 20 minutes outside of Siena in a small
town called Rosia. If anyone is wants to stay at a place that not only has
a beautiful landscape, but also welcomes people to have hands on experience
with the working farm and vineyrad...they should go to Spannocchia! Randall
will take you on a tour of the 12th and 13th centruy buildings, and the
interns are always willing to answer any questions about their work. Dinner
every night is a 4 to 5 course meal, and every other Wednesday is Pizza
night with pizza?s made in a real outdoor pizza oven. When my internship
was up at Spannocchia...I didnt want to leave!
ec
USA Sun 06/08/2003
Siena
Another good place near Siena is called Camera degli italiani ignari I was
treated wonderfully there. Ask any local and they can give you directions.
It's a must see.
Richard
San Francisco, CA USA Fri 06/06/2003
Sicilian Agritourismo
We spent 5 nights in Feb. 2003 at the Villa Dafne; located about 50 km southeast
of Palermo in the Sicilian countryside. It has 10-12 rooms with private
baths. We did a half pension plan (breakfast and dinner) for $42E per person
per night. Meals were fantastic - the chef teaches Sicilian cooking classes
in Houston. Scenery is spectacular and the people are very friendly and
helpful. Take the Agrigento train from Palermo and get off at the Roccapalumba
stop - they will come pick you up at the station. We will definitely stay
there again!
Bruce
Manitou Springs, CO USA Wed 06/04/2003
agriturismos in italy
My girlfriend and I have stayed at three different agriturismos. In 2001
(one week after 9/11) we stayed in a little bit of heavan on the Amalfi
Coast. Agriturismo San Alfonso is near Furore which is in between the town
of Amalfi and Positano. The owner, Michela, serves fresh pastries for breakfast
and offers homemade Italian dinners in the evening. On the second night
we drank wine with Michela and her family. We were only scheduled to stay
2 days and ended up staying 4. The cost was about $100 per night which included
breakfast and dinner and buying homeade wine and limoncello. We will return.
Gary Miller
Frisco, TX USA Tue 06/03/2003
tuscany agritourismo
Farmhouse in southern Tuscany
Edward Flaherty
Tallahassee, FL USA Sat 05/24/2003
Italian Agriturismos
My sister and I traveled to Tuscany in September/October 2001. We even attended
a cooking school at a farm near Lucca called Macea. Antonio made his own
wine which her generously sold to use for the unheard of price of 5,000
lira per bottle. We also stayed at Ancora del Chianti outside of Greve.
The people were so friendly and would do anything to make our visit more
enjoyable. We happened to be there on the day the grapes were harvested
and watched the whole process, including tasting the first juice out of
the press. What a way to see Tuscany!
Cindy Bryce
Bend, OR USA Fri 03/28/2003
Umbria/Nocera Agriturismo
The Villa Della Cupa in Umbria is Molto bene! I stayed there this past fall
for a few days while I was studying in Italy. Here is a web site with some
information. http://www.italybedandb.com/it/dettagli.asp?id=114
Jennifer Towner
Seattle, WA USA Wed 03/26/2003
Fattoria Voltrona, Tuscany
My wife and I travel to Europe every year and to Italy as often as possible.
We finally decided to spend time in an agriturismo and actually extended
our stay. Check out www.voltrona.it. This farm is located just out of San
Gimignano, about half way between Florence and Siena. A car is essential
and allowed us to check out many out of the way, small towns in the countryside.
They also have optional evening meals served family style which we really
appreciated. The olives, olive oil and wine are from the property.
Ken
San Francisco, CA USA Mon 03/17/2003
Tuscany Agriturismo
La Crociona (www.lacrociona.com) is a wonderful vineyard about 3 km outside
Montalcino. You will need a car but there are many little towns very close
(within a half hour): Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni, Sant
Antimo, Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Buonconvento, Murlo. The driving is easy
and the food and wine in each town is special. I have stayed here and will
do so again. If you want more information, e-mail me.
Henry
Wichita, Ks USA Sat 03/15/2003
I Due Casali, near Rome
"I Due Casali" is run by a great family, with a wonderful farmhouse apartment,
excellent restaurant, 40 min from Rome: Azienda Agrituristica I Due Casali,
SS. 2 Cassia Km. 70.000 - 01019 Vetralla (VITERBO), tel/fax 0761/46-18-57
cell phone 0368-343-1712, web: www.iduecasali.it/home_eng/home_eng.html.
Hasschen
USA Sat 03/15/2003