Tourism and Rural Life Combined - Agritourism in Southern Italy

Less travelled than northern Italy, the south has kept many of its secrets. Hot and suggestive, it has been inhabited as long as the mind can imagine. Surrounded by water and jutting precariously out into four different seas, tides have brought in ship after ship full of pirates and marauders. Earthquakes have ravaged its interior, and droughts nearly starved its people. But as inhospitable as it may seem, it has managed to sustain human life for nearly a million years.

Communities of the south have relied for centuries on the precarious occupations of mining, fishing and agriculture to provide for their families, leading their often-struggling economies to be easily outdone by their global northern neighbours. The appeal of agriculture has been declining, and farm-owners moving to the cities in hopes of finding a more secure way of making a living. Towards the end of the 1900s, small farms in Italy were gradually being abandoned for life in urban centres. Family plots which had been handed down for centuries could no longer compete financially against larger, commercial farms, and privately-owned, centuries-old farmhouses, villas and castles were being left to fall into ruin. The relative remoteness of the areas comprising Italy's high heel, suggestive arch and pointed toe have had various degrees of success with farming, but a lack of underground water sources and numerous natural disasters have continually set back crop development and steps towards economic stability.

In the information below, WorldWeb Travel Guide offers tips and detailed specifics on a large and varied selection of places to stay in southern Italy with an emphasis on several key areas of travel, including Molise, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.

Useful Agritourism Links for Southern Italy

• Apulia Farm Stays & Agritourism
• Basilicata Farm Stays & Agritourism
• Calabria Farm Stays & Agritourism
• Molise Farm Stays & Agritourism
  
• Sicily Farm Stays & Agritourism
• Sardinia Farm Stays & Agritourism

	Plowing the old-fashioned way.1

Creating a Symbiotic Relationship Between Tourism and Rural Life
In the mid 1970s, Italy's government, along with the European Union, began to look for a way to integrate their agricultural economies with the always-prosperous business of tourism. Agritourism, or agriturismo, was born. Incentive is given to farmers to restore and conserve their historic family buildings and create an attractive destination for travellers looking to explore the lesser-known Italy. The culture of rural Italian life lends itself towards hospitality, and generous and warm homesteads welcome everyone everywhere.

Also known as Green Tourism, agritourism has increased in popularity yearly since its inception. Farms grow and market organic foods of extremely high quality by following the traditions of farming in their area. Government regulations focus on products grown in regions that are not particularly arable and are therefore limited in their levels of output. An attempt is made to limit competition for the agritourism establishment's products. The farm is then able to advertise and market themselves while earning income and providing hospitality to travellers.

Growth of Agritourism
In the mid-1980s, groups of Italian landowners already interested in organic farming met together to form the Commissione Nazionale Cos'e Biologico, or the National Commission for Organic Agriculture. They worked with consumers to create the first self-regulatory standards for organic farming for the country. In 1991, the European Union published its EU-Regulation 2092/91, which is a comprehensive code of conduct for all EU farmers wishing to become an agritourism destination. Since then, 16 certification agencies have developed in Italy. The EU continues to adapt 2092/91 to encourage farmers to explore alternatives for their land. Interested landowners may look to Organic Rules and Organic Revision for more information on the EU's standards for organic farming.

Benefits of Agritourism
Several regions in Italy have embraced and profited from the benefits of agritourism, but perhaps the most positive results can be seen in the country's south. Rarely explored but still rich in landmarks and palatable history, the south is seeing an upswing in popularity with tourists, and agritourism farms provide an economical, educational and genuine Italian experience. Generally, guests have use of their own private vehicle which they use to scout out the many monuments and remnants of history that pepper the landscapes all over the country.

Since 2001, agritourism has increased by 25 per cent in Italy. Several establishments are now able to accommodate guests overnight, and tourists enjoy the opportunity to participate in a region's traditional culture, customs and food. Generally, agritourism farms are family-owned, friendly and hospitable. The tradition of sharing a meal is an integral aspect of socializing and is an Italian way of life. Guests become more aware of the uniqueness between the regions of Italy, the quality and variety of the foods locals consume and alternatives to traditional methods of travel.

Specifics
Farmers must have two years of farming experience to qualify for application and then must complete 100 hours of training on the ins-and-outs of agritourism, such as hospitality, law, management, accounting, hygiene and sanitation and transporting and processing food products. Applicants must also complete an oral exam. The largest expense owners generally incur is the rehabilitation of their buildings to accommodate guests, a cost which often runs into the hundreds of thousands of euros. Government funds are granted to help initiate the projects, but are often not enough to cover the entire bill. Fortunately, many establishments are able to recoup their losses quite quickly once opening to the public.

	The rolling hills of the Italian countryside.2

Statistics indicates that most agritourism families host guests for about 180 days of the year, as the duties of the farm requires the attention of its owners for the rest of the year. The maximum daily capacity for every farm with overnight services is 30 people. Three levels of guest services are provided, according to the training provided the owner. Conveniences range from simple, self-service meals and lights snacks to full-service meals with a wait staff to an all-inclusive "farm holiday", featuring meals, sleeping accommodations and learning and recreational opportunities.

Sights and Attractions in Southern Italy
The skeleton of the oldest village ever discovered in the world is currently being excavated outside Isernia, and is being tentatively dated to700,000 to 900,000 years ago. The residents were known as Homo Aeserniensis, or the Man of Isernia, bridging the gap between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens, and the first examples of urbanisation known to the world. The next settlers, known as the Pelasgian population, would not arrive until 4000 BC. The fierce but highly civilized race known as the Samnites would take over the surrounding lands of what is now modern-day Molise in approximately 600 BC, staving off the unrelenting Romans until about 290 BC. Remains of one of their villages, called Saepinum, are preserved near Campobasso.

	Lambs await their dinner.3

Romans paved a straight line from their hometown to Brindisi in Apulia, industriously building baths and homes, arenas and coliseums, many which remain nearly intact. A deeply religious region, many crusaders knelt to pray at the Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo at Monte Sant'Angelo before embarking on a mission that they would likely not return from. The astonishing Sassi houses of Matera in Basilicata have been featured in many Hollywood films, and Calabria, the toe of the country, has some of the country's better beaches. The palaces of Palermo, Sicily's most influential city, display influences from the island's many periods of rule, and Sardinia's ancient peoples left behind thousands of nearly indestructible monuments known as nuraghi, whose use remains unknown. Along with its man-made points of interest, Italy's south is comprised of pristine coasts, hidden grottoes, mysterious caves and acres of wild, protected lands.

Types of Agritourism Establishments
Since every agritourism is housed in a unique family home, no two are alike. They may have been a palace in the countryside, or a modern farmhouse on the outskirts of a bustling town, or even an ancient cave. Some homes were former residences of politicians and royalty, others are painstakingly restored outbuildings of estates. Several are furnished with period furnishings, antiques and crafts, and decorated with local art. Some are steps from the sea, others are set in private groves and others are in urban centres - but all are atmospheric and pleasant.

Products available are table and wine grapes, table and oil olives, breads, cheeses, pastas, seasonal vegetables, seasonal fruits and more. On-site and nearby activities may include barbecuing, swimming, hiking, mountain-biking, wine and cheese tours, culinary tours and and crafts-making.

Transportation and Rentals
Most travellers who choose to use agriturismos as their accommodation choice have access to a private automobile. The farm is used as a base from which to perform short day trips to nearby attractions. As some of the more major historic sights are relatively remote, and located slightly outside of major centres, renting a vehicle is a logical choice.

Rentals are available from all major centres throughout southern Italy. Vehicles with standard transmissions are by far the most common, so international visitors unfamiliar with driving a stick shift should book well in advance for a vehicle with an automatic transmission. If at any time drivers should experience engine trouble or an accident should happen, dialing 116 will bring the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) to the rescue with roadside assistance.

The branches of these olive trees are laden full with their fruits.4