Forget chain hotels. An agriturismo is where you eat breakfast made from eggs laid that morning, sleep surrounded by vineyards, and wake up to church bells. Here's everything you need to know.
Lorna Dante
Private Guide & Founder, VaFeltre Tours
An agriturismo (plural: agriturismi) is a working farm that also offers accommodation and, usually, meals made from their own produce. The concept is regulated by Italian law — to be called an agriturismo, the agricultural activity must be the primary business, with tourism as secondary.
This isn't just a marketing term. It means the olive oil on your table was pressed from trees you can see from your window. The wine in your glass was made from grapes grown on the property. The pasta was made by the farmer's grandmother that morning.
What to Expect at an Agriturismo
- Rooms that range from simple and rustic to beautifully restored farmhouses with all modern comforts.
- Meals (often half-board or full-board) featuring the farm's own products — olive oil, wine, vegetables, cheese, cured meats.
- A genuine connection to the land and the family who works it.
- Quiet. Real quiet. No traffic noise, no hotel corridors, no strangers in the elevator.
- Activities like olive harvesting, wine tastings, cooking classes, or horseback riding — depending on the property.
Where to Find the Best Agriturismi
Tuscany is the most famous region for agriturismi, but you'll find excellent options throughout Italy. Umbria offers stunning hilltop farms. Sicily has incredible citrus and almond estates. Puglia has masserie — large fortified farmhouses — that are among the most beautiful accommodations in Europe.
The Meal Experience
Dinner at an agriturismo is often the highlight of the entire trip. You'll typically sit at a long communal table with other guests, and the food comes in waves — antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno, dolce. It's not a restaurant menu; it's whatever the farm produced that week.
Lorna's recommendation: "Always book the dinner option when staying at an agriturismo. The meals are often the most authentic Italian food you'll eat on your entire trip — and the stories that come with them are priceless."
How to Book
Many agriturismi have their own websites, but the official Italian registry at www.agriturist.it is a good starting point. Booking.com and Airbnb also list many properties. Always email or call directly if possible — the owners appreciate it, and you'll often get better rates and more personal attention.
Several VaFeltre Tours itineraries include nights at carefully selected agriturismi. Lorna personally vets every property to ensure it's the real thing — not just a hotel that added a vegetable garden.
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