How to Stay at an Agriturismo in Italy

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Staying at an agriturismo is something that I prioritize on almost every trip I take to Italy. There’s nothing like relaxing in the Italian countryside, dining on outstandingly fresh produce, and living la dolce vita — far from the cities.

Agriturismi (the plural of agriturismo) are Italian farms that double as bed and breakfasts. They are found in every part of the country, and they’re a hugely popular way for Italians to travel.

Italian farm holidays have caught on with foreign tourists, and Barbara Kingsolver wrote about visiting agriturismi in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, her bestselling memoir about eating only local food for one year.

So take it from me, your Italy-obsessed friend — you will love staying at an agriturismo. It’s just the right amount of Italy off the beaten path. In fact, your agriturismo stay might end up being the highlight of your trip to Italy!

But I know it might sound a bit complicated. How do you even book one of these places? How can you tell it’s a good one?

Read on for how to find the agriturismo that’s perfect for you.

Views over an agriturismo in Sicily -- a farm building in the foreground and terraced farmland, underneath a purple sunset.
View from Agriturismo La Rocca delle Rose near Mount Etna in Sicily.

What is an agriturismo?

An agriturismo is a farmstay in Italy — a small, independently owned working farm where tourists can stay overnight.

In the period of industrialization post-World War II, many farmers in Italy were packing up and moving to the cities to make ends meet. Farms were falling into disrepair, and the Italian government soon realized this was putting their beloved food traditions at risk.

In 1985, Italian lawmakers passed legislation creating a legal definition of the word agriturismo and providing funds for farm estates who were willing to convert them into accommodation. And it worked like a dream. Soon these farmers became innkeepers, introducing visitors to rural Italian life.

Today, Italian agriturismi are a beloved tradition — and they’re incredibly diverse. You can find agriturismi at all price points, from very cheap and simple guesthouses that look like you’re staying in a bare-bones attic to five-star luxury properties with spa treatments and a concierge.

Usually, though, most of them are small farms focusing on agriculture. (This is a big difference from American farms, which tend to be much larger and focused on livestock. Most likely the farm animals you’ll see in Italy will be dogs and cats!) I find most agriturismi to be wonderfully unpretentious.

Sometimes they can be a bit bigger and more upscale — I’ve stayed at two agriturismi that were actually wine resorts: Isola del Sasso in Sasso Marconi, Emilia-Romagna, and Agriturismo Baglio Donnafranca in Marsala, Sicily. They didn’t have as much of a family feel, but they had fabulous local food and wine.

And while you might picture a Tuscan farmhouse set among olive groves, you can find agriturismi in every corner of Italy. You can find agriturismi with terraced vineyards tucked into the mountainous areas like Valle d’Aosta, just as you can stay at an agriturismo a short walk from the sandy beaches of Basilicata. I’ve even stayed at multiple agriturismi in the shadow of volcanoes!

Just know that they sometimes go by different names in different regions — an agriturismo is often called a masseria in Puglia, a poggio in Tuscany, or a baglio in Sicily.

Some agriturismi offer activities — horseback riding, bike rentals, cooking classes — but the majority of them are simple places providing a relaxing place to stay and excellent food.

A pink house set on a big lawn, two blue lounge chairs in front of it.
Bioagriturismo Nure in Alghero, Sardinia, a relaxing rural getaway a 15-minute drive from the city.

Why stay at an agriturismo?

Anytime I’m staying in Italy for a week or longer, I try to book an agriturismo for at least a few nights. Here’s what I enjoy about visiting them:

A break from Italy’s frenetic cities. So many people travel to Italy and only visit cities — Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, and they’re off again. Rural life is so different — it’s calm, it’s peaceful, and the air smells fantastic.

Outstanding farm-to-table cuisine. Agriturismi usually serve dinner and breakfast made from local produce: their own and and their neighbors’. Those eggs were probably laid this morning, that olive oil was harvested from those olive trees, and that limoncello has been fermenting on a pantry shelf for months!

Supporting a small, independent business. Wouldn’t you rather put money into a local family’s pocket than make some CEO richer? That’s what you do at an agriturismo.

Value for money. You can get a night’s stay plus a fantastic dinner and breakfast, often for a similar price for just a hotel in one of the big cities. Amenities like swimming pools are often part of the stay.

No worries about drinking and driving. When you’re eating at the place where you’re sleeping, you can indulge in all the homemade wines and digestivi without having to have a designated driver.

Personal connections. When staying at an agriturismo, you can often get to know the owners a bit, which is nice. (Though that usually depends on how well you can communicate!)

Great for families with kids. Agriturismi cater especially well to families — they’ll put extra beds in your room and let the kids play outside while you enjoy your multi-course feast. Some are especially kid-oriented with playgrounds.

Souvenirs. You can almost always buy some of their own products to take home with you — the agriturismo’s own olive oil, wine, and digestivi.

A terrace covered with a trellis in Stromboli, Italy.
The relaxing terrace at Agriturismo Solemare in Stromboli.

How to Book a Stay at an Agriturismo

Can you find agriturismi on regular hotel booking sites? Yes! I usually find mine on Booking.com. When searching on Booking, you can tick the box “Farm Stay” but it doesn’t always line up perfectly — sometimes agriturismi will be labeled as “bed and breakfast” instead.

I also Google a LOT more than usual. This is the best way to find booking platform-averse agriturismi — and how I found Agriturismo Sardo in Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia, that served the traditional roast suckling pig that Charlie wanted to try.

Agriturismo.it is home to the greatest selection of agriturismi in Italy. This is a great resource for figuring out the fine details of the place where you’re staying. It’s easy to segment by the kind of environment and the amenities.

You can also find agriturismi on Airbnb. Make sure you tick the box “Farm Stay” and be careful about the extra fees that get added.

Either way, I always make sure I look at the agriturismo’s website before booking. That will give you as much information as they have (even if it’s only in Italian!).

A chef teaching a few women how to cut sheets of pasta into ravioli.
Making ravioli with Stefano on a G Adventures trip at Poggio delle Rose in Chianciano Terme, Tuscany.

Book a Group Tour to an Agriturismo

G Adventures offers a few “Local Living” tours in Italy where you stay at an agriturismo for a week and explore the local region. They offer activities like cooking classes, hikes, and wine tastings.

Back in 2013 I went on a media trip for their Southern Tuscany tour, which I enjoyed immensely but they no longer offer.

Today G Adventures is offering Local Living tours in San Gimignano in Tuscany, and on the Amalfi Coast and in Sorrento, both near Naples in Campania.

A pool surrounded by sun chairs and tall cypress trees in the Italian countryside
What a view from the pool at Agriturismo la Selva near Siena in Tuscany! (Charlie stayed here and loved it.)

How to Choose the Right Agriturismo

Choosing an Italian agriturismo is different from choosing a hotel or guesthouse because of the importance of food. I research agriturismi by starting with what they do for food, then fanning outward.

Start with food. Does this agriturismo serve meals? Does it serve meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or just some of the meals? Does it serve meals only some nights of the week and not others? Are there half board and full board options available? Is dinner served at a certain time?

After making sure they serve dinner, I read a LOT of reviews on Google, looking at photos of the food and what people have to say. (Tip: Italians tend to be harsh in their reviews. If a place rates 4.2 or better, that’s probably a great place.)

Next, take a look at the accommodations. Are you in a main building, or separate? Do you have your own private bathroom? What kind of amenities are on-site? Think swimming pool, outdoor lounge areas, activities, etc.

Be sure to ask about air conditioning if you’re visiting in the summer, and heating if you’re visiting Southern Italy in the winter. I nearly froze at an agriturismo in Sicily during a cold spell in February until they provided us with a space heater and extra blankets!

Next, take a look at payments. How do they take payments? Will you be able to pay with a credit card, or do they require a bank transfer for your deposit? Do they only take cash?

(If you’re a frequent traveler, I recommend getting an account with Wise, which gives you bank accounts in several currencies and makes international transfers easy.)

Finally: what’s the location like? How do you get there? How far are they from the airport? Will you be arriving after dark? If you’re not driving, will you need a pickup? What will you be able to visit within a 90-minute drive?

Kate standing in an onion field in a casual burgundy dress, holding up an onion and grinning with triumph.
Sometimes you can pick the vegetables if you’d like! (Technically not an agriturismo, but an onion farm in Tropea, Calabria.)

Agriturismo Food

For me, the most important aspect of staying at an agriturismo is the food. I always try to stay at an agriturismo that serves dinner.

Most agriturismi served a fixed menu for the day. (This is one reason why it’s smart to contact them ahead of time if you have dietary restrictions.)

Usually an agriturismo meal starts with appetizers like a tagliere (plate of meat and cheese) with olives or bread, followed by the primo piatto (pasta or risotto course), secondo piatto (meat or fish main course) served with contorni (vegetable side dishes), followed by dolce (dessert), caffe if you’d like, and digestivi (digestive liqueurs). Wine and water are served throughout.

Of course, every agriturismo is a little bit different. Many provide accommodation but cater primarily to diners, like Agriturismo Il Cucchiaio di Legno in Orta San Giulio, Piemonte, and Isola del Sasso in Sasso Marconi, Emilia-Romagna.

And then there’s breakfast. In general, I tell people not to get too excited about breakfast in Italy. As much as Italians care about food, breakfast is pretty low-key. You’ll usually have a few average cakes and a crostata or two, some fruit and yogurt, maybe eggs. But some agriturismi make breakfast a bit more memorable.

A plate covered with deli meats and cheese wedges next to small bowls with various different vegetables.
Most agriturismo meals start with a plate of meats and cheese like this one at Agriturismo Sardo in Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia; the side dishes like beans, chickpeas, and pickled onions were an unexpected surprise!
A plate with caponata (Sicilian dish with fried eggplant and vegetables in tomato sauce)
Caponata, an eggplant and vegetable stew and the ultimate Sicilian starter dish, at Agriturismo Baglio Donnafranca in Marsala, Sicily. It’s usually vegetarian but they added octopus to theirs.
Two spoons topped with a pile of thinly sliced veal topped with tuna sauce and a caper berry.
Vitello tonnato, veal in tuna sauce, a classic Piemontese appetizer, at Agriturismo Il Cucchiaio di Legno in Orta San Giulio, Piemonte.
A ravioli and a handful of marinara-drenched pasta.
Homemade ravioli and pici pasta at Poggio delle Rose in Chianciano Terme, Tuscany.
A big bowl of spaghetti covered with marinara sauce.
Agriturismo Casa del Sole in Cupra Marittima, Le Marche, served us an enormous bowl of pasta for two — just one course of many!
A metal plate topped with roasted pork and roasted potatoes.
The roasted pork is the reason we came to Agriturismo Sardo in Santa Maria Gallura, Sardinia!
Three tiny cakes and semifreddos on a dessert plate.
A fancy dessert sampler from Agriturismo Il Cucchiaio di Legno in Orta San Giulio, Piemonte.
Who needs dessert when you can have blood oranges right off the trees? Served at Agriturismo Villa Vittoria in Guardavalle, Calabria.
Blue and white placemat and yellow cutlery set out with fresh fruit, jams, and honey.
Agriturismo Solemare on the island of Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands served lots of fresh jams, fruits, and honey produced on their property!
A breakfast spread with bread, cheese, meat, lots of fresh fruit, yogurt, and coffee.
A lovely breakfast spread at Bioagriturismo Nure in Alghero, Sardinia.

Agriturismo Accommodations

Italian accommodations tend to be on the simple side, and that goes for agriturismi as well. They give you what you need, and often not much more than that.

But that’s fine! You’ll have everything you need.

One big tip — pillows in Italy tend to be very flat. Nowadays, every time I travel to Italy, I bring a travel contour pillow (or full-sized pillow if we’re driving to Italy). It’s good to have. But every now and then, an agriturismo surprises me with a nice puffy pillow!

Here are some of the agriturismo rooms where I’ve stayed:

A simple bedroom with a wrought-iron bed with white linens, topped with towels of three sizes.
My room at Agriturismo Villa Vittoria in Guardavalle, Calabria. (Notice the fluffy pillows!)
A simple room with a wrought-iron bed, two bedside tables and two basic wooden chairs surrounding it.
My room at Bioagriturismo Nure in Alghero, Sardinia.
A bed in an orange room covered with bright pink and orange striped sheets.
Crazy sheets at Agriturismo Solemare in Stromboli!

What to Do at an Agriturismo

What do you do at an agriturismo, anyway? Honestly, it’s completely up to you.

Some agriturismi have activities that you can book in advance, like wine tasting, food tasting, or horseback riding. Some have bicycles or scooters that you can rent to explore the area.

Sometimes an agriturismi will welcome you to help out in the vegetable garden if you’d like.

And you can just hang out, spending time in the pool or reading a book outside. There’s nothing wrong with that — that’s a big reason why people stay at agriturismi! For the peace and quiet.

Here are a few things I’ve done while staying at an agriturismo:

People hanging out on the rocky coastline in the blue water of Aci Trezza, Sicily
While staying at Agriturismo la Rocca delle Rose in Zafferana Etnea, Sicily, I visited the seaside town of Aci Trezza on their recommendation, and loved our local beach day!
People sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Pienza, Italy.
While staying at Poggio delle Rose in Chianciano Terme, Tuscany, I visited the romantic town of Pienza — my new favorite town in Tuscany!
The front of a boat pointed out over a calm blue-green harbor surrounded by cliffs and another sailboat.
While staying at Bioagriturismo Nure in Alghero, Sardinia, I went on a FANTASTIC sailing trip that I found on Airbnb Experiences and was one of the highlights of my year.
People walking down a hiking path between two hills, the ocean in a distance.
While staying at Agriturismo Solemare in Stromboli, the Aeolian Islands, I actually hiked up (and down, and up, and down) Stromboli’s active volcano!

Figure Out Transportation

In most cases, you’ll need to have a car to visit an agriturismo properly. These farmstays are located in rural areas, usually far from any form of public transportation.

But you shouldn’t let that hold you back! Driving in Italy is not as scary as many people think. It’s not like you’ll be driving somewhere like Naples, where drivers refuse to follow the laws of physics — this is calm, beautiful, rural driving.

Keep in mind that while roads tend to be quiet in rural Italy, they can also be small. Many times in southern Italy especially, I’ve ended up on a one-way dirt road where you need to be super careful when squeezing by other cars!

Google Maps doesn’t always give you the best route, so be sure to double-check with your agriturismo.

And here’s something travelers often overlook — you don’t need to rent a car for your entire Italy trip, just part of it! Say you’re doing the typical Rome-Florence-Venice itinerary. Spend a few days in Rome, take the train to Florence, spend a few days in Florence, rent a car for a few days and drive around the Tuscan countryside while staying at an agriturismo and enjoying the rural lifestyle, return your car, then take the train to Venice.

I think this is a great idea because you can keep the driving limited to the gorgeous rolling hills of Tuscany — and avoid driving in cities, which is always a huge pain (parking is the WORST).

Can you stay at an agriturismo if you don’t have a car? It IS possible — but usually a bit of a hassle. Occasionally, you’ll find an agriturismo close to public transportation, but keep in mind that in rural areas, that bus might only run once every three hours.

Sometimes agriturismi offer pickups from local train stations; at other times, you can take a taxi (Uber is available in many Italian cities but rare in rural areas).

If you choose to stay at an agriturismo without a car, double-check when the agriturismo serves food. If you want to spend a day lounging at the property, double-check that they serve lunch, or else you’ll be running on fumes until dinner!

A vineyard filled with yellow flowers, stone buildings in the distance.
I loved the scenery at Agriturismo Baglio Donnafranca in Marsala, Sicily.

Agriturismo Travel Tips

Here are some of my top tips for staying at an agriturismo in Italy:

Research the area before you go and put together a list of priorities to visit before you arrive. And keep in mind that many Italian regions are HUGE. Tuscany is massive, for example, and it takes hours to drive from one end of the region to another. Instead, focus on a smaller part of Tuscany, closer to your agriturismo.

And on my latest trip to Sicily, it felt like we drove over the whole island — but we were just in the westernmost province of Trapani, a tiny chunk of Sicily itself! And there were tons of cool small towns to visit there!

Ask the agriturismo staff for recommendations. They know the area better than anywhere else! When I stayed at Agriturismo La Rocca delle Rose near Mount Etna in Sicily, they suggested we spend a beach day at Aci Trezza, which became one of the highlights of our trip.

Agriturismi folks are knowledgeable about towns worth visiting, hiking routes, things to do, good nearby restaurants (especially if the agriturismo doesn’t serve lunch), and places you won’t find in any blog or guidebook.

Don’t expect great phone signal or wifi. Often agriturismi are located in phone signal dead zones with a single router providing wifi in common areas only. Many people take this as an excuse to relax.

If you require wifi for work or FaceTime calls home to your family, make sure you talk to the agriturismo in advance to verify it’s enough for your needs.

Know that there may be a language barrier. These days, there’s usually at least one person at the agriturismo who speaks a bit of English (often, one spouse speaks great English and the other speaks almost no English!), but in more remote places, you may struggle.

One challenge for me was Agriturismo Sardo in Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia. At first I emailed them, but they stopped answering emails, so I tried calling, nobody spoke English, my broken Italian was awful, and I had to enlist an Italian-speaking friend to call them for me! (The food was SO worth it, though.)

Be ready for hiccups. When we arrived at one agriturismo, nobody was there to greet us! We ended up hanging out for an hour on the outdoor patio and patting their dogs and cats until someone came home to let us in. At another agriturismo, we had a plumbing issue, which isn’t uncommon in the Italian countryside.

Just be ready to go with the flow.

If you have dietary restrictions, let the agriturismo know in advance. I recommend telling them right when you book and reminding them again shortly before you arrive. Italians are happy to accommodate people with food allergies.

If your dietary restrictions are particularly challenging, you might want to email them in advance to discuss if they can work with your needs.

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll have an easier time in Puglia or Sicily, two regions that have extensive plant-based options (though admittedly it’s much easier to find vegetarian dishes than vegan dishes).

And know that Italians know how to deal with gluten-free dining. All children in Italy are tested for celiac disease, so Italians are very familiar with what it entails. One agriturismo in Umbria served my celiac friend Jodi a bowl of sliced cherry tomatoes topped in the pasta sauce!

Consider your luggage allowance and souvenirs. Agriturismi often sell their own local products: digestivi, olive oil, sauces, wines, and other liquids. If you want to bring them home, you’ll need to pay for checked luggage for the flight home.

A pink building in Italy with a lantern, a big wooden door, surrounded by overgrown plants.
A building at Agriturismo La Rocca delle Rose in Zafferana Etnea, Sicily.

Agriturismi I Recommend

I’ve listed several agriturismi I’ve stayed at in this post, and I’d be happy to stay at any of them again.

But here are some that I think are extra special:

Agriturismo Sardo in Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia — You’ll have to call or email them directly, and there’s a language barrier, but they will serve you the biggest, most insane multi-course Sardinian feast you’ve ever had. I’m talking THREE primi dishes and a roasted pig.

Agriturismo La Rocca delle Rose in Zafferana Etnea, Sicily — A wonderful family-run agriturismo in the shade of Mount Etna — a perfect location for exploring Eastern Sicily. Beautiful grounds, a nice pool, delicious meals, and a welcoming family who will help you feel at home.

Poggio delle Rose in Chianciano Terme, Tuscany — Wonderful staff, fantastic food, a view you’ll never forget, and an excellent location for visiting Southern Tuscany and even a bit of Umbria if you’d like, though not in a tourism-overwhelmed town.

Agriturismo Il Cucchiaio di Legno in Orta San Giulio, Piemonte — I’m including this because this is one of my favorite restaurants IN THE WORLD. However, their accommodation leaves a bit to be desired and is right next to the train tracks (super-loud). Definitely make a dinner reservation ahead of time, get the well-priced tasting menu, and sample the Barolo.

That said, keep in mind that you need to find the agriturismo that works best for YOU. Your personality, your travel needs, the foods you’re looking forward to eating.

The good news is that there are so many agriturismi all over Italy, you won’t have trouble finding the perfect one for you.

Planning a Trip to Italy:

Cool Places in Northern Italy:

Cool Places in Southern Italy:

Have you been to an agriturismo? What tips do you have?