Agritourism in Italy

In addition to world-famous historical attractions, wonderful Mediterranean beaches and incredibly delicious traditional cuisine, Italy is also famous for its so-called agritourism. In the cultivation and promotion of this type of recreation, this southern European country, along with its neighbors - Spain and France - is among the top three in the world. For those who want to get acquainted with the country from within, to learn more national traditions and culture features, the best way to do this is to get to know Italy's agrotourism more closely. Rest with the color of the village will delight all lovers of peace and quiet, tired of the city vanity.

Why is agrotourism attractive in this country?

All year round more than 10 000 Italian villas, farmsteads and farms with love accept the lovers of this type of tourism. Guests are attracted here: riding horses, walking along colorful flower fields, the aroma of which extends for many kilometers, visiting vineyards, and if you are lucky to participate in harvesting and monitoring the process of making wine, etc. However, most tourists who came for agritourism To Italy, pleases the opportunity to try various culinary delights from absolutely natural, as they are now called, eco-products, and even better - to participate in their preparation. Such a journey will remain in their memory for a long time.

How it all began...

More intensively, this industry in the country began to develop after the Second World War. The history of agrotourism in Italy, as local people say today, began with the time when one rich man left for the Apennines in order to rest and live on an Italian farm. Then he told me that he just wanted to diversify his life.

I must say that at that time Italy was in a state of decay, and the Italian villages were completely devastated. And then one day an odd foreigner appears on one farm, who asks to be sheltered, allowed to participate in agricultural work, and offers the owner a lot of money for this. Of course, no one had heard of this unusual holiday in Italy (agrotourism) in this village, but the farmer, of course, accepted his offer and let him go.

"Sarafanne radio"

After the rich foreigner left the country, he told all his acquaintances how to relax in a picturesque Italian village, how interesting it is to participate in agricultural work, to see with my own eyes, and to participate in making various delicacies, including pastas, famous Cheeses, sauces, and wine. In a word, he advertised agrotourism in Italy, and soon after that other "seekers of rural joys and adventures" began to come to the country.

In principle, this wonderful country, rich in historical sights and artistic values, has always attracted travelers, but agrotourism in Italy has become a new direction. "Sarafanne radio" did not disappoint, and every year the number of tourists coming to Italian villages began to grow.

Agritourism in Italy

Among the farmers of the Italian provinces there were many who clung to the idea of developing this type of tourism. They began to prepare their villas, farms, houses to receive guests both from abroad and from large Italian cities. They also began to invent various entertainments for them. After all, the most important thing is that visitors do not get bored, and that every day they are filled with new adventures and impressions.

So, in the early 70's in the provinces of Italy there were new farms - acricola, which were ready to receive guests. Here, tourists could not only enjoy the chic rural scenery and silence, but also learn the secrets of making olive oil, famous Italian cheeses, wine, etc. At the same time, Italy's agrotourism prices surprised with its cheapness. All this was explained by the characteristic feature of local residents - love and hospitality. After all, many of them would be happy to host guests for free, but business is business. The cost of agricultural tourism in Italy today is pleased with the democracy of prices, in return tourists receive the highest level of service. Perhaps, it is because of this that their popularity never decreases, but, on the contrary, it increases every year. Guests can book whole villas as well as rooms in the homes of the farmers themselves. The cost of tours for 6 days ranges from 270 to 500 (and above) the euro.

Official Recognition

Since 1985 agrotourism in the country has received support from the government of Italy. And there is a special resolution, which clearly describes the instructions for running this business. And in order to obtain a license for it, Italian farmers must undergo a special training course lasting 100 hours. During these classes all those "businessmen" who wish to engage in agro-tourism in Italy, get knowledge on the basics of law, accounting, management, sanitary and hygienic standards, etc.

Every year more than two million tourists come to Italy for the purpose of rest in the countryside. This is a great achievement for this country.

Tuscany is the most popular Italian region for agritourism

The most active area of Italy, involved in agrotourism, is Tuscany. Here, 25% of all the country's agrarians are concentrated. This region is a real paradise for tourists. It seems that you are moving in the Middle Ages. The small villages are very picturesque. They are surrounded by incredible natural beauty, among vineyards and olive groves.

Virtually all Italian housewives are excellent culinary specialists and can cook delicious dishes for guests. Very often tourists want to take part in the creation of these dishes, and not only: they are very interested in seeing how olive oil is made, how wine is squeezed out, or how to cook pasta at home. Thanks to all this, agritourism is very developed in this fertile region. Tuscany (Italy) annually receives an incredible number of guests from different parts of the world.

Tuscan cuisine

In the diet of local residents there are fish, homemade sausages, flour products, dishes from various vegetables, which grow in each farm in their beds. The majority of the recipes is olive oil. Moreover, the Tuscans prepare it somehow in a special way and the oil here is the best in the country.

A special steak dish is also Florentine steak. It is made from bovine meat, which is marinated in olive oil with the addition of various spices and herbs. Well, all the goodies are washed up with young Tuscan wine. For special occasions wine of long-standing aging is served. Probably, it is thanks to these culinary delights that agrotourism in Italy, Tuscany, has reached such a popularity. The reviews that can be found on the tourist portals are left most of all by real gourmets, who describe in great detail everything they could eat or drink while in this country.

Agritourism in Trentino

Together with the beautiful Tuscany the superiority in the number of agricoles is divided by the resort of Trentino, which is located in South Tyrol. What is the guarantee of the popularity of this province? Trentino is also the largest center for mountain skiing and mountain tourism in the whole of Europe. The infrastructure is well developed here. Many tourists, accustomed to the comfort of choosing for agrotourism is Trentino. They are met here with picturesque landscapes, mild climate, clean, crystal air, many different sights with which this region is rich, divine wine of special sorts, and, of course, a variety of Italian cuisine, among which you can find suitable for both vegetarians and And for lovers of meat and fish delicacies.

Local culinary traditions

By the way, Terentino is famous for its special kind of pasta called pizza. It is made from buckwheat flour, with it served potatoes and savoy cabbage. As a sauce, sauces from cheeses and spicy herbs are presented to this dish. Very delicious in South Trio is preparing beef. There is one traditional Terentine dish - Tagliata, which is first marinated with spices, and then grilled. In Italy, it is also customary to eat raw beef, which is called bresaola. It when served is cut into very thin, almost transparent slices.

Piemonte is another Italian paradise for agritourists

This region is in the north of Italy. As he has glorified this wonder-country with his special culinary delights, then fans like gastro- and agrotourism come here to come. After all, many tourists are interested not only in taste of great dishes, which you can taste when you are in Piedmont, but also how they are cooked by local housewives. And the attractiveness of the local agrarian is in no way inferior to Tuscan.

By the way, it is here that the most famous variety of mushrooms grows - white truffles, which are considered a delicacy in all corners of the world. Many tourists come here just to stop at the legendary "hunters" behind these original mushrooms. Believe me, this is an incredibly interesting sight - to watch our smaller brothers, namely the pigs digging out from the ground these very mushrooms, which are then served in the most expensive restaurants of the world at a fabulous price. The farms where the piglets are bred are mushrooms, there are many in the province of Lange, near the city of Alba. Winemaking in Piedmont also takes a leading place. It is this province that is considered the birthplace of such famous wines as "Asti Slumante" and "Prosecco". It also produces wonderful sorts of cheese: Castelmagno, Gorgonzola, GranaPadano, etc. Tourists come can combine the pleasant with the useful - to heal in the thermal waters of the springs.

Agrotourism in Italy: reviews of tourists

You will not meet with any negative feedback about this kind of holiday in this beautiful country. The Italians themselves are very hospitable, besides, they are real businessmen and very cherish their reputation. They will not allow anything to be wrong, and tourists would be dissatisfied with something. The villas are simply delightful and, despite the fact that they are made in the old style, there is everything for a comfortable stay. Everything else the local population does with love. And is this not likely to please someone? So everyone who decided to get acquainted with the agrotourism of Italy, go away in full delight and with the intention to return here again and again.