Farm Holidays in Italy: The land of Sunflowers, Grapes and Oil
A typical Tuscan FarmhouseThinking of taking a farm holiday in Italy? Travel Italy; it is beautiful and so diverse. It is almost like travelling through several countries rather than one, when you traverse the country from top to bottom and east to west. The dialects are different, the food is different and the customs and cultures are different. But several things remain constant, the people are hospitable, friendly and generous, they all talk with their hands when they get excited and the scenery and old hilltop villages and towns are picture-perfect. So many of us have read and loved Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun, and how many of us have wanted to go to Italy because of it? I was one of those readers and I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. It was everything she described it to be, and more some. So much so that Italy became our number one travel destination and over the last 6 years we searched for a farm of our own. And now we too have a little slice of paradise in Tuscany, just outside Chitignano and Rassina. You can read about our farm purchase and restoration here: A Tuscan Farmhouse. One of the best kept secrets in Italy is the Casentino Valley. Once home to Francis of Assisi and the birthplace of Michelangelo. It is a beautiful valley and home to one of the largest National Parks in Italy. It is also home to Arezzo, Poppi and Camaldoli - all worth a trip while you are there. And if you cannot resist the more touristy places like San Gigminano, Sienna, Montepulciano, Perugia and Cortona, they are all within an easy day's trip. The farms in Italy are as they have been centuries before. Italian farmers are not into huge commercial farms, and as a result, most of what they farm is organic. They keep the best olive oil in the country and that from Tuscany is particularly pleasant; dark green with a peppery after-taste. Wine is cheap enough, and readily available through wine routes, especially in the Chianti area. If you can afford it try a bottle of Brunello, and Vin Santo is a must after an evening meal with a biscotti to dip into the sweet wine to finish off a perfect meal. Have I tempted you enough? Don't just read about it, come and experience a farm holiday in Italy for yourself. Italy is full of stone farmhouses, villas, and farm stays on farms which are part of an increasingly growing trend; agritourism. And above all, Italians are passionate about Italian Food. Come and taste the wine, the pecorino, the prosciutto, the olives, the sun dried tomatoes... Talking about tomatoes, you have never tasted better tomatoes than those grown in Italy! If you cannot come over for a visit, but you love Italian food then have a look through our Italian Recipes. There are many farmers' markets held throughout Italy on almost every day of the week except Sundays. If you are in Rome there are some excellent food markets there. 3 of my favourite Rome Markets are discussed in detail here. For those of you who are about to travel Italy or have been and would like to drop by at our other website we would love to see you. The Travel Italy Grapevine is for the latest travel reviews and gossip for your Italian holidays and vacations. This is your travel guide to Italy where you find out about the best tourist attractions in Italy, find out about the best Italian restaurants and and swap your favourite Italian cooking recipes. Get the latest scoop on where to go, and what to see by people who visit Italy. If you have a farm in Italy that you would like to showcase visit our Farm Forum. You can upload a picture and brag a little. We don't mind! There are other individual farming discussion boards to contribute to through this forum, as well as a Craft & Recipes Forum where you can share your favourite recipes and also get some crafting ideas for various arts & crafts.
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| Villa la Contea, Tuscany |
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Although this isn't a farmhouse now, it used to be, and it is a very special property. It was part of an ancient farm that used to belong to the Contessa Visani-Rassinesi in the 15th century, after which Rassina is named, in the Casentino Valley. The main house, lived in by the owner, contains a medieval chapel and beautiful frescos. Although there are two houses on the property, they are totally separate and independent. The villa is extremely comfortable, especially for large groups as it has 4 bedrooms and can easily sleep 10. The owner and her family are wonderful people who are very hospitable. There is plenty to see and do in the area as the house is well-positioned in the Arezzo Province. It is also well positioned for dining out as there is a wonderful pizzeria and restaurant set in large gardens, right next door! This is a villa I have stayed in myself, and can personally recommend.
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| Agri Costella, Apulia |
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| Bio Agriturismo Il Vigno, Tuscany | | | | |
Looking for some last minute accommodation in Italy that is reasonably priced?
11 days for £500. Contact Us and let us know the dates you require so that I can check availability. It is a Tuscan holiday home on a hill with a panoramic view. Details below:
Italy - Tuscany - Massa-Carrara - Lorano
Type of object: Holiday House, semi-detachedLiving area:130 m2Number of rooms: 9Number of sleeping accommodations (sleeps):7Number of bathrooms:2
Typical Tuscan country house, in the middle of the vineyards, The house is terraced on 3 connected levels.
On the lower ground level you find the well equipped country kitchen and dining room, and the outdoor dining area above the sounds of the forest The middle level has an elegantly furnished living room with an open fire. On this level you also have 1 double bedroom and 2 bathrooms. The third level has a large sitting room with a library and a fire-place in the second kitchen.
This house is well equipped with washing machine, TV, sound system. It is peaceful, near transport, historic Tuscany, 40 Km from the coast very close to thermal springs, and 1.5 away from Pisa, Lucca and Florence.
Here's is some more information on Tuscany in an article written by Robert Carlton:
Title: A farm holiday in Tuscany - A Vacation to Remember
If you are looking to travel to a unique and beautiful destination in Europe, the wonderful Tuscany in Italy is an excellent choice of holiday destination when looking for farms in Europe. The rich culture, fascinating lifestyle, and breathtaking beauty of this destination means that a vacation here will truly be a vacation to remember. When it comes to finding accommodation in the area, you will enjoy a range of choices, one of the most popular is a farm holiday in Tuscany, where you can enjoy the delights of your own farm accommodation throughout your stay, enabling you to ...
To see the rest of the article go here
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