What is an Agriturismo?
An agriturismo is first and foremost a fully-functioning commercial farm that also provides hospitality services for nature tourists, using its own buildings and products. The primary requisite is that it offers hospitality on the farm itself in renovated rural buildings readapted to carry out those activities.
In Italy, agritourism establishments started appearing in the eighties thanks to a desire to promote agriculture and integrate it more closely with tourism, artisan and local culture, and today it is a phenomenon that is expanding rapidly.
Not only in Tuscany
The agriturismo is now common throughout the Italian peninsula in each region. It exists in many different forms adapting hospitality to local architecture, uses and customs.
Rural Tourism
While an Agriturismo means hospitality within a commercial farm; rural tourism includes a more general style of country vacation and “ecological” tourism, which is the eco-compatible alternative to mass tourism.
Rural tourism includes agriturismo and bed&breakfast establishmentsas well as homes, room rentals, country hotels, country homes and all possible types of overnight structures outside urban centres and nearer to a rural lifestyle.
All said, hospitality in the country is an ancient tradition: just think of medieval travellers and the inns along the roads walked by religious pilgrims, or vacations in villas that gave rise to splendid architectural works that are common throughout the Italian countryside. Rural tourism has its own specific tradition and this is another reason why more and more people are getting interested in it.
Why it is successful
Why are more and more people, both in Italy and abroad, interested in passing a few days in contact with nature?
The main reasons are:
- A desire to "unwind" and rediscover a healthy and relaxing lifestyle;
- The high quality reception;
- The rich array of traditional food and wine products, which are frequently produced and sold on the farms;
- The possibility to adapt the vacation to fit all tastes making it great for: sports enthusiasts, families with children, lovers of fine food and fans of psychological-physical well-being, folks looking for something different and people who love local art and history;
- The ability of tourist operators to multiply and diversify the offer, who are able to providing cultural, recreational and entertainment services aimed at rediscovering the characteristic values of the rural Italian world.
Who we are
Italia Agritur is the only Italian guide that is specialized in rural tourism and it is available in bookstores, newsstands and on line.
From 1996 – with the first edition of the guide – to today, we have always aimed at being a meeting point for “eco-tourism” facilities and tourists. With two guides that are published nationally as well as several regional editions and a website in Italian and English, we are able to offer a broad and diversified view of establishments making it easy for tourists to choose a site that offers individualized entertainments that they are sure to enjoy.
Our strengths
Italia Agritur’s true point of strength is its multi-channel offer, which differs from the many online guides that have grown in past years on Internet because it has the solidity and experience of a publishing company behind it: Iter Edizioni is specialized in tourist guides and maps and dedicated to a philosophy that provides sustainable tourism as an alternative to classic "mass tourism."
For this reason, we are one of few who can put all of the professionalism, competency and experience of an editorial department at your service.
Our characteristics
In print:
- Two editions each year: “gold” for bookstores and “magazine” for newsstands;
- 65,000 copies printed and distributed on a national level;
- All of the facilities are accompanied by one or more photos for a total of over 1300 pictures;
- 20 regional touring maps.
Online:
- Two versions: Italian and English;
- Many key words are at the top of the search list;
- Maps with geographic references for each single establishment;
- Updated information is always double checked by the editorial department.
Our efforts
Italia Agritur works to constantly improve its products and make new services available to companies and visitors. Our objective is to always be there for both customers and tourists on line, becoming the point of reference for all those who love "eco vacations."
Professionalism, passion and quality are values that inspire our work; efficiency, dependability and a profound knowledge of the sector are the promises that we maintain.
Our offer
A varied choice
Italia Agritur offers a wide selection of companies that work in rural tourism: from Valle d’Aosta to Sardinia you can choose between agritourism, bed & breakfast and agricamping establishments as well as vacation homes or country inns. There is a wide array of choices to meet the preferences of all and to rediscover the environmental, cultural and human wealth in the rural world of Italy.
Only establishments that accept reservations
Italia Agritur is the guide to Italian rural tourism. On our site you will find over one thousand establishments that offer rooms by reservation: therefore establishments that only offer dining possibilities have been excluded.
Direct contact
Italia Agritur does not carry out any sort of tourist intermediation services and therefore it does not accept reservations or supply information on availability or special offers. Through our website it is possible to directly contact the establishments: our job is to help you identify the establishment that best meets your needs.
