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What is an
Agriturismo?
Agriturismo is
an Italian term
for what we
might call a
farm holiday or
agricultural
tourism, but
it’s a concept
that’s not
really all that
familiar to many
travelers. Farm
holiday? What’s
that? Sounds
like you’ll be
up at the crack
of dawn to milk
cows and gather
eggs, doesn’t
it? And that’s
not much of a
holiday. Well,
it’s a far cry
from that image,
believe me. Many
of the farms
which accept
overnight guests
are, indeed,
working farms,
but the vast
majority of the
time the guests
are treated like
royalty.
No, agriturismo
isn’t about
working on a
farm, it’s about
experiencing
rural Italian
life and a
slower-paced
holiday. The
idea is that you
rent a room in a
farmhouse in the
countryside
where you can
enjoy
unparalleled
views and
exceptional food
(usually at
least one meal a
day is
included), and
where your most
difficult task
each day will be
deciding how to
spend your time.
Many agriturismi
(the plural of
agriturismo)
will offer
guests such
things as
cooking classes,
horseback
riding, guided
tours of the
area or Italian
wine tastings.
Of course, if
you’re on
vacation to
relax, you can
also choose none
of the above and
just relax on
the terrace with
a good book.
With an
Agriturismo, a
Car is Often
Necessary
The properties
which offer
agriturismo
accommodations
are, by
definition,
outside the
city; this is a
huge plus if
you’re looking
for the
anti-urban
experience, but
can be a problem
if you’re
reliant on
public
transportation
to get around.
If you’re
staying at an
agriturismo,
renting a car is
probably the
easiest option –
you’ll be able
to get directly
to the property
on your own, and
you’ll also have
the freedom to
make day-trips
of your own
choosing. It’s
not impossible
to have the
agriturismo
experience
without a rental
car, however.
When you’re
reading about
different
properties, just
keep in mind to
look at whether
they mention bus
or train service
to the nearest
town and whether
the owners are
willing to come
get you when
your train or
bus arrives.
An Agriturismo
Isn’t Always
Expensive
After reading
about how great
an agriturismo
is, you might be
concerned about
cost. You’ll be
pleased – and
perhaps
surprised – to
learn that many
agriturismi are
cheaper than
hotels. In fact,
in many
accommodations
booking engines
they are listed
under “hostels.”
This could also
be because in
some cases
you’ll have a
private bedroom
but share a
bathroom,
thereby cutting
costs and making
them more like a
traditional
hostel
experience. For
whatever reason,
if you’re
traveling
through Italy on
a budget, don’t
rule out staying
in an
agriturismo.
Courtesy of
http://www.italylogue.com/agriturismo
What sites do
you recommend to
search for a
good Agriturismo?
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