Agritourism has become a mainstay of the Italian tourism business.
There are hundreds of farms around Italy who offer accommodation to tourists. Sometimes they have facilities like swimming pools and are housed in old castles; others are more basic. Common to all of them is their location, among the olive trees and vineyards of the Italian countryside.
Many tour operators offer tours to vineyards and wineries, but not actual farms. If you travel by car or bicycle, organizing your own tour is easy. There are a few companies who specialize in this kind of tour, however.
Emilia Delizia
The region of Emilia Romagna is not only where Parmesan cheese comes from, it is also where balsamic vinegar and Parma ham are produced. There are several farms which offer room and board, but Emilia Delizia is the only one that combines it with tours of the producers.
The owner speaks English, French, Spanish and Japanese--apart from Italian.
Emilia Delizia tours
Via Pisacane 7
41049 Sassuolo (Mo), Italy
011-39-053-6194-5476
guided-tours-italy.com
Bay Farm Tours
Bay Farm Tours is a British company who specializes in tours with an agricultural bent. This means primarily visits to working farms during the tours, including meeting the farmer and discussing agricultural practices. The company was started in 1981, and organizes tours not just to Europe but also to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The Italian tour goes to northern Italy, including Venice, the Dolomites, Po valley and Lake Garda.
Bay Farm Tours
35 Euston Rd
Morecambe
Lancashire, LA4 5DF
United Kingdom
011-44-15-2442-3444
bayfarmtours.co.uk
Italbus Viaggi
Italbus is the Italian member of the ATOI, Agricultural Tour Operators International. The company was founded in 1971, and arranges agricultural tours, including fruits tours, sheep and beef tours, visits to farm fairs, vineyards, and visits to milk farms with artificial insemination centers.
Italbus Viaggi
P.za Roma 25 - 26100 Cremona - Italy
011-39-03722-8842
italbusviaggi.com
Tags: Emilia Delizia, Farm Tours, Italbus Viaggi, tours including