|
DISCOVERING ITALY
Holidays
in the open air and natural surroundings...
1.
The National Parks Top
If we
consider an ecological holiday in the open air we naturally think
about the extraordinary heritage of the national parks, a must for those who wish to discover
Italy. Breathtaking
itineraries spread throughout some twenty vast
national
parks and an infinite choice of protected areas
provide
trekking for the enthusiast with a total immersion in natural
environments of exceptional beauty.
1.1 THE ALPINE
PARKS Top
T he
first Italian national park was born
among the perpetual ice and the emerald green valley of the Alps. Founded
in 1922,
the National
Park of Gran
Paradiso
is
a former hunting
reserve that was handed over
to the State in 1919
by
the reigning
house. The park, situated in a
territory of high mountains between
Piemonte and
Val d'Aosta,
covers an area of around 70,000
hectares,
including 800
meters
of the valley and 4061
meters
of
the Gran
Paradiso
mountain
peaks. Woodlands
of larches and firs,
meadows, rocks and glaciers are the home
of a great variety of wildlife:
the
ibex, which miraculously escapeextinction
and is today the symbol of
the park, marmots, stoats, chamois and a great many species of
birds,
including
the recently reintroduced "bearded
vulture" and the golden eagle.
The environment also has numerous traces of the presence
of man,
with 300
kilometers
of mule tracks,
hunting lodges, the mines of Cogne,
villages
and mountain pastures.
For those wishing to learn more
about the park there are centers for visitors located in the
valleys,
which provide general information
including the sale of books,
guides, etc., and organize permanent
and temporary exhibitions. In the summer months these structures
also show films and organize
excursions and children's activities.
The main tourist center can be
found at Salvo Noasca (in the valley
of the river Orco) in the region of
Piemonte and is open all year round
(for information contact the Park
Tourism Office, Noasca Visitors' Center,
tel.
0124 901070); the
other centers
are open in the summer, at Christmas
and on several Sundays throughout the year. The National
Park of
Stelvio
extends
over an area
of 134,620
hectares in the heart of the Central Alps
and contains valleys
molded by the ice and water descending
from the Ortles-Cevedale Massif. This protected area is bounded to the north by the Swiss National
Park
of Engadina and to the south by the Regional Park of Adamello, in
Lombardia, which in turn directly borders the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park in
Trentino.
The
idea of protecting
this magnificent Alpine landscape
dates back to the early 1900s
and the area became a park on
April 24,1935.
In
1977
the
park was
extended to its present-day size. Here visitors can admire every
kind of Alpine
formation, from rocky peaks (Ortles,
3905
m)
to
 glaciers, from mountain
pastures to valley floors (Laces,
650
m).
The hydro-geological conditions
of the area give the
landscape its typical characteristics of ice-formed lakes and
foaming
mountain
torrents. The variety of the territory,
determined by considerable differences
in height, favors the existence
of various ecosystems, with numerous rare species of wildlife. The
upper
slopes are the habitat of the chamois,
and ibex can be seen in some
of the high valleys, while foxes, marmots and stoats are easily
spotted.
Excursions can be made to the
villages and mountain pastures,
which
are scattered throughout the valley floors and on the mountain
slopes,
or to discover the charming examples of rural and sacred
architecture,
in complete harmony with
the natural surroundings. Information on itineraries and
excursions
in the protected area can be
found in the visitors' centers. In the northwest of Piemonte, near
the Swiss border and very close to Lake Maggiore,
is
a fairly recently founded park
(1993)
with
totally different characteristics. This is the
National
Park
of
Val
Grande,
the largest natural area in Italy
and a veritable
open-air
museum of Alpine civilization.
The abandonment of such practices
as mountain grazing and deforestation
has marked the return of
the wilderness. The richness and variety
of the vegetation, with its impenetrable
woodlands and brightly colored
flowers, are one of the area's
main attractions. The rarest and most interesting botanic species
are,
without a doubt, the Alpine aquilegia
and
the Alpine tulip. The fauna
includes chamois, deer, roe deer,
badgers, martens, stone martens, hedgehogs, dormice, squirrels
and foxes. Bounded by the Ossola
Valley, Lake
Maggiore,
and the valleys
of Vigezzo, Intrasca and Cannobina, the park guarantees an
unforgettable
visit in a genuine sanctuary
of nature. Traces of man's presence
in the area range from engravings in the rocks of the Prà
Alp
at Cicogna
and
Sassoledo to military fortifications
built on the edges of the area
during the First World War. In the province
of Belluno, in Veneto,
is
the
National Park of
the
Bellunese
Dolomites,
which was founded in 1990
to
protect an area in the southern
part of the Dolomites, a territory
that is less famous, but with a
landscape of exceptionally beauty and
unspoiled nature. Situated in the high mountains, the park is
characterized
by an extremely rich and
wild natural environment, where the towns and villages are concentrated in a narrow belt around
the edge.
The Feltre and Serva
mountains
were already famous for their exceptional flora in the 18th
Century.
The rare species of plant life and
the impressive variety of landscapes
are mainly due to the park's
unusual location on the southeast
edge of the mountain range in extremely
remote areas, part of which remained
free from the ice during the coldest stretches of the Quaternary
Period
(the last ended in around 10,000-12,000
years
ago). The fauna of
the park includes chamois (around 2000
specimens),
deer (currently spreading),
roe deer and mouflons, as well
as foxes, badgers, stoats, weasels, stone martens, squirrels and
hedgehogs.
In a high mountain park such as this, there is not, of course, a
great
historical and artistic heritage. The most important place to visit
is the
Charterhouse of Vedana, which contains
a monastery; here there are shepherds'
huts and cheese factories, abandoned for decades, and the
small village
of Gena
in the valley
of
Mis.
1.2 THE
PARKS OF THE APENNINES Top
Along
the ridge of the Apennines that
runs
from the north to the south of
Italy
a network of numerous national
parks
has developed over the last decades, three of which are located in
Abruzzo,
which
represents the heart of
the
network. The oldest of these,
founded
in
1923,
is the National
Park
of
Abruzzo,
Lazio
and
Molise,
which
has played a
fundamental role in preserving some of the
most important species of large fauna in Italy, including the Marsicano
brown
bear, the chamois of
Abruzzo
and
the wolf, and is today a true
model
of the harmonious co-existence
of
environmental protection and economic growth. Visits to the park are
subject to control and selection, and there are numerous facilities
for
tourists.
The National
Park of
Majella
combines
natural (the area
boasts
an extraordinarily varied plant
life
with over
1800
species
registered)
and spiritual values. The landscape of the Majella Massif, in fact,
bears witness to the strong religious feeling of its past
inhabitants, with numerous sacred buildings including abbeys,
hermitages and sanctuaries dug in the rock. The park has many
tourist facilities and organizes frequent initiatives to encourage
tourism. The third park of
Abruzzo (which again
involves the neighbouring regions of Lazio and the Marche) is the
National Park of
Gran Sasso
and the Laga
Mountains, which, covering an area of
150,000
hectares, is one of the largest in Italy. It contains three
mountain ranges - the Gran Sasso of Italy, the Massif of Laga and the
Gemelli
Mountains, and has the highest peak of the
Apennines, the Corno Grande (2912 m), and the only
glacier in the Apennine range, the Calderone, which is the
southernmost glacier of Europe. For
lovers of local art and traditions the historical center of Isola
del Gran Sasso offers a great number of fine historical buildings.
The village of Castelli, famous for its
artistic ceramics, is a veritable concentration of art, history and
culture. From north to south ranges a series of recently founded
national parks, of which the newest is the
National Park of the Toscana-Emilia Apennines. With three quarters of its surface in
Emilia Romagna and a quarter in Toscana, the park contains in one single
protected area the
Regional Park of
Gigante,
part of the Regional Park of the Upper Valley of Parma and Cedra
(Emilia Romagna), and parts of
the Lunigiana and Garfagnana regions, which boast some of the
highest peaks of the northern Apennine ridge. The park is
characterised by dense forests and woodlands, including vast beech
woods alternated with forests of silver firs and conifers.
Stretching out between Emilia Romagna and Toscana is the National Park of the
Casentinese
Forests, Mount
Falterona and
Campigna. In the territory of Romagna the landscape is
characterized by deep, narrow valleys and mountainsides that are
partly rocky and partly covered with dense woodland; the slopes on
the Tuscan side, meanwhile, are less rugged, and scored with the
mountain torrents that flow into the River Arno. This park boasts an
extremely rich flora, while its fauna includes wolves, golden eagles
and various hoofed species. In the forests and in the very varied
natural environments there are numerous traces of the presence of
man dating back to remote times, with a number of ancient villages
and two sanctuaries of special interest, Camaldoli and
La
Verna, dedicated to St. Benedict of Norcia and St.
Francis of Assisi. Another national park strongly characterized by
its ancient European Christian imprint is the National Park of the
Sybilline
Mountains, in the heart of
Italy between
Umbria and the Marche.
Right in the center of the park is Norcia, the birthplace of St.
Benedict, the father of western monasticism. In ancient times, this
was believed to be a center of demons, sorcerers, fairies and the
prophetess Sybil, from whom the mountains take their name. The park,
which contains some of the highest peaks of the Apennine range,
boasts a number of rare wildflowers, such as the edelweiss of the
Apennines, as well as some magnificent wildlife species, for example
the golden eagle. An original feature of the area is the
a ccommodation that is provided for visitors. In 1995, in fact,
the so-called Park Houses were set up in fifteen different boroughs
to cater for tourism. With its wealth of mythological and historical
references (from the nymph Leucosia to the fated Palinuro, companion
of Aeneas in the flight from Troy; from the remains of the Greek
settlements of Elea and Paestum to the splendid Charterhouse of
Padula), the National Park of Cilento and Diano Valley stretches out
from the Tyrrhenian coast to the foot of the Campania-Basilicata
Apennines. Thanks to the beauty of its natural environments and to
its historical and artistic heritage, the park has won a place on
the Unesco Heritage of Humanity list. Also in the territory of Campania is the
National Park of
Vesuvio, a natural area of great
importance in Europe (Vesuvio is
the only active Continental volcano), in which the archaeological
and historical heritage of the area is protected. In the southern
Apennines, between Basilicata and
Calabria, is the National Park of
Pollino. The
symbol of this territory is the Bosnian pine, a tree characterized
by a cleft bark of shiny plates, which grows on the higher slopes.
The park contains some very interesting sites for enthusiasts of
paleontology and archaeology. The two southernmost parks along the
Apennine range are situated in Calabria.
The
National Park of
Calabria, which contains the Sila range,
is virtually uninhabited and has consequently been modeled on the
large America parks, which are
crossed only by special routes equipped for tourists. Most of the
territory of the park belongs to the State. Lastly, in the extreme
south of the
region, is the
National
Park of Aspromonte, an area characterized by wild,
unspools nature, high, rocky peaks, dense forests overlooking the
sea, exceptional wildlife (this is the most southern area where the
wolf is still found) and remains of the ancient civilization of
Magna
Graecia.
1.3 THE
COASTAL AND ISLAND PARKS Top
The
network of parks and protected areas in Italy includes also the
coastal areas, the seas and the islands. A modern approach to
environmental  protection, in which the aim is to find a balance
between the activities of man and the safeguarding of the
ecosystems, has in the course of time led to the preservation of a
number of marine areas and their inclusion in protected parks. The
southernmost of these is the
National Park of the Cinque Terre,
in
Liguria. The Cinque Terre ("five
lands" or villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia,
Manarola and Riomaggiore) in the province of La Spezia are a
real miniature paradise, with steep cliffs overlooking the sea, bays
and little beaches, walls marking out terraces for the cultivation
of vineyards, characteristic Medieval towns and scenic footpaths
through rows of grapevines. The park, with its protected coastal and
marine area, was founded to conserve and promote these varied and
exceptionally beautiful natural environments that have been affected
by farming, tourism and nature itself. The seaside towns are
connected by a route known as the Sentiero Azzurro ("blue path"),
which takes around five hours to cover by foot from one end to the
other, but is well worth the effort for the beauty of this
Mediterranean setting rich in herbs and plants and the breathtaking
view of the mountains towering over the sea. The Via dei Santuari
("path of shrines"), meanwhile, is an ancient route that was once
reserved for the pilgrimages and customs of the local farming
community. Lastly, the Via dell'Amore ("path of love") offers an
extremely romantic walk along a path cut into the rock overhanging
the sea, which links the villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola.
Visitors are enchanted by this route in all seasons for the
spectacular views it offers of the charming landscape and the
striking shapes and colours of the rocks. The National Park of the
Tuscan Archipelago
includes the seven islands off the coast of
Toscana in the Tyrrhenian Sea:
Elba, Capraia, Gorgona, Pianosa,
Montecristo, Giglio and Giannutri. This was the first large marine
park to be founded in Italy, and is the vastest
protected area of the European seas. The islands of the Tuscan
Archipelago are all very different, from a geological point of view.
Capraia, for example, is a volcanic island, while Giglio and
Elba are predominantly granitic.
However, they all offer tourists enchanting landscapes and
unforgettable holidays. The Mediterranean flora represents the main
vegetation on the islands, which host colonies of sea birds,
shearwaters and gulls, including the rare black-headed gull.
Cetaceans can also be spotted. Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea in the
region of Lazio is the
National Park of
Circeo. This is a smaller
protected area, but with very interesting characteristics. These
include the oak forest today known as Selva di Circe (the "wood of
Circe"), which is the only existing flatland oak wood in Italy; the
calcareous promontory of Circeo; the wetlands, with their four
coastal lakes; the island of Zannone, in the Pontino Archipelago,
and the abundance of wildlife and lush vegetation. There are two
parks crowning the northern coastline of Sardegna: the
National Park of the Archipelago of La Maddalena and the
National
Park of Asinara. The archipelago of
La
Maddalena is known universally as a territory of
rare beauty and exceptional naturalistic, historical and cultural
wealth. The park, including both its land and sea areas, covers an
area of over 20,000 hectares,
with as many as 180 kilometers of
coastline. It includes all the islands of the territory belonging to
La
Maddalena and is due to become an important part of
the large international marine park of the Straits of Bonifacio,
soon to be founded. The
island of Asinara, inhabited since
Neolithic times, is characterized by a remarkable historical,
environmental and legal situation and has been able to conserve its
ecosystems. In fact, due to a series of events that caused it to be
dubbed with the unattractive name of Isola del Diavolo, or "Devil's
Island"; it has been used as a quarantine station, a prison-of-war
camp in the First World War and, until a few years ago, one of the
main Italian detention centers during the period of terrorism
(1970s) and in the struggle against organized crime. This isolation,
which lasted for over a century, has given the island its special
atmosphere of charm and mystery, and has favored the conservation
of untouched and virgin areas, which are today internationally
considered a unique and priceless heritage. The last of the coastal
national parks brings us to the Adriatic
Sea. This is the
National Park of
Gargano. The promontory of
Gargano is, from a biological point of view, an "island" separated
from the rest of the Italian peninsula by the plain of the Tavoliere
delle Puglie. The park hosts an exceptional concentration of
different natural habitats, ranging from the high, rocky ridges to
the deep, hot valleys of the southern slope, from the ancient beech
groves on the mountains (although situated at much lower heights
than in other parts of Italy) to the clusters of Aleppo pines. The
wildlife of the area includes the roe deer (one of the very few
existing autochthonous groups found in Italy) and various species of
woodpecker, whose presence emphasizes the naturalistic value of the
forests, of which the
Umbra Forest deserves special
mention.
2.
THE GREENEST TOURISM
Top
"Agriturismo"
-
or
farm holidays
-
represents
a new frontier
in
"gentle", ecological and sustainable tourism. In recent years
an
increasing amount of people opt for a farm holiday in close contact
with nature, staying in country farmhouses, enjoying the
authenticity of the local products as well as the friendliness and
hospitality of their country hosts, and rediscovering the traditions
of ancient farming cultures. Farm holidays also provide the
opportunity of visiting the
surrounding
towns and appreciating more thoroughly their
artistic and
architectural heritage.
A
good example are the "wine trails", a characteristic feature
of
many Italian regions (especially Piemonte, Lombardia,
Toscana
and
Umbria),
which
lead through vineyards and
farms,
touching on places of remarkable historical
interest along the
way.
2.1 THE
MEANING OF “AGRITURISMO” Top
In
around the mid-1980s a few Italian farms decided to dedicate part of
their farm complex to accommodating guests. Initially, these
structures were chosen by nature-lovers as a place to spend a few
quiet days, but as time went on this new type of country holiday
began to gain increasing popularity, and today it is a widely
appreciated practice. Generally, it is chosen as a way to
re-establish a contact with nature and rediscover a taste for the
fruits of the earth, and to experience the simplicity of staying in
a family environment or, in any case, a setting that is less cold
and neutral than that of a hotel. "Agritourism" is the expression of
an original sensitivity, an activity that proposes a system of
cultural, as well as business, values. It is a new approach to the
rural and environmental space, capable of attracting also the
younger generations. Moreover, as the farm holiday structures are
situated in marginal areas or settings of high naturalistic
value they also contribute to the safeguarding of the territory by
promoting a type of tourism that is more responsible with regard to
the environment. The farm holiday structure is, in actual fact, a
fully working farm, where guests may stay overnight in friendly
surroundings, far from the chaos of the large cities, and, if they
wish, take part in or simply watch such activities as the harvesting
of vegetables and fruit or the tending of the
animals.
2.2 THE
MANY FACES OF FARM HOLIDAYS Top
Today
in Italy there are numerous
organized and professional farm holiday structures offering a wide
variety of activities. The more traditional types are usually farms
that provide accommodation for tourists in a family environment.
These are not necessarily equipped with recreation facilities but
tend to concentrate on involving the guests in the daily activities
of life in the countryside.
A
classier type of farm holiday, meanwhile, offers a more luxurious
and elegant hospitality in structures that frequently have great
historical value. Many offer the opportunity of tasting their own
wines and sampling specialties of Italian traditional cuisine.
Increasing numbers of farms located in areas of great naturalistic
value offer active holidays to tourists, with the practice of sports
ranging from horse-riding to swimming in the swimming pool, as well
as organizing excursions by foot and on horseback. Last but not
least, the organic farms, in which the processes and the raw
materials are all strictly natural, are where the triumph of nature
is most fully celebrated. A number of Italian farm holiday
structures are also equipped to offer hospitality to campers. In
Europe there are around one million
campers, with a "camper population" of over four million people.
Potentially unlimited, accessible all year round and scattered
throughout the whole country, the farm holiday option is an
excellent opportunity for camping tourists, who find an efficient
network of stopping places at their disposal.
2.3 REGION
BY REGION Top
In
the past few years the farm holiday structures have spread
throughout all parts of Italy. These structures
include the homesteads, or masi, of Alto Adige and Trentino, the
frasche of Friuli, the farms of Piemonte and Lombardia, the tiny,
picturesque villages of Medieval origin in the countryside of
Umbria, the farmhouses of
Toscana, Lazio and Campania, the
fortified farms of
Puglia
and those nestled among the orange and lemon groves of
Sicilia. Each
region has its own characteristic version of the "agritourism"
structure. In
Val
d'Aosta these are predominantly
resting places along routes for treks on horseback or mountain bike;
in
Piemonte tourists have the
opportunity to discover not only the great historical, artistic and
environmental heritage of the region, but also its rich gourmet
tradition. Local specialties include a wide variety of pasta and
rice dishes, as well as farm-raised chicken, rabbit and veal,
accompanied by exceptional wines, both white (Erbaluce di Caluso,
Arneis del Roero etc.) and red (Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo etc.).
Visitors may also spend their holidays exploring the nine "wine
routes" (Langhe, Monferrato, Colli Tortonesi, Canavese, Pinerolese,
Freisa di Chieri, Coste della Sesia, the Novara Hills and the
Saluzzo Hills), among the vineyards and the great naturalistic and
cultural attractions. A holiday "with the farmers", in total
relaxation or perhaps lending a hand in the grape or olive harvest
-this is what guests are offered in the farm holiday structures in
Liguria,
which
are numerous and scattered throughout the region, especially in the
valleys and the ancient villages of the entroterra, or hinterland.
Accommodation may range from comfortable private rooms in the
owner's house to flats or independent country cottages rented on a
weekly basis. Visitors may also purchase the farms' own products
-excellent wines, such as the fragrant Rossese di Dolceacqua of
Ponente or the prized Cinqueterre Sciacchetrà of Levante; the famous
olives of Taggia, home-made jams, honey, olive oil, pickled
aubergines, tomatoes and vegetables, etc. The cuisine varies from
place to place, with a few elements in common - olive oil,
vegetables, the typical flat bread known as focaccia and the
internationally renowned basil sauce pesto.
Lombardia
offers a wide variety of "agritourism" structures, ranging from very
simple and basic farmhouses to refined country relais, from
structures concentrating on educational tourism to organic-producing
farms, where guests can enjoy tasty home-made "risotto", soups,
stews, salami and cheeses, accompanied by excellent red, white and
sparkling wines. For lovers of wine a good place to begin is in the
hills of Oltrepò Pavese. In fact, from Stradella, Brani, Casteggio,
Canneto, Rovescala there are numerous trails leading through the
enchanting surrounding countryside with its rich wine production
(red wines include Barbera, Bonarda and Cabernet Sauvignon, and
white wines include Malvasia, Riesling, Moscato and Pinot Grigio).
In the area of Oltrepò Itinerando ("Trailing") is an initiative
established by the farm holiday structures in co-operation with
various local organizations, which gives tourists the opportunity to
explore places that are characterized by their great artistic and
architectural heritage (castles, churches and architectural works),
their rich natural resources (natural reserves and botanic gardens)
and their high quality farm products and local gourmet specialities.
In addition to hospitality in farm holiday structures, Itinerando
organises guided tours with sampling of local products in the farms
and wine-making establishments, cookery courses, etc. The "Wine and
Farm Product
Route of the Province of
Sondrio" also
passes through a charming landscape of vineyards lined up on
terraces under the sun. The area of Valtellina, nestled between the
foothills of the Orobic and Rhaetian mountain ranges, is one of the
most important natural itineraries of wines and local products in
Lombardia. In
Trentino-Alto Adige
"agritourism" is
by no means a new concept, but has its origins in the Medieval
religious convents offering accomodation and in the refuges for
pilgrims and wayfarers. Forty years ago the farm holiday structures
of Trentino began to accommodate tourists in the traditional masi,
typical local country homes. Today the region is a good example of
well-organised "agritourism", and appreciated for its courtesy
towards guests, the combination of tradition and modem facilities, a
strong characterisation and an excellent quality-price ratio. Along
the roads that wind through the green Euganei Hills, in
Veneto,
among woodlands and
vineyards that line the hills, are numerous farm holiday structures
where visitors can find hospitality and, if they wish, take
advantage of the modern thermal centers in the area for indulging in
their own wellbeing.
Friuli-Venezia
Giulia
is another region that
offers farm holidays for connoisseurs and gourmets; these structures
are concentrated mainly around the lagoons and in the grape-growing
hill areas, and offer quiet, refined holidays with high quality food
and wine. The "agritourism" of
Emilia Romagna
has for the past few
years represented a good alternative to the highly popular tourism
of the Adriatic coast and places great emphasis on the variety of
the local gastronomy. From the valley areas of Comacchio to the
hills of Piacenza a number of farms offer
hospitality and entice the palate with fresh pasta dishes of ancient
tradition. Along the "Wine and Farm Product Route of the Imola
Hills" are wine-making establishments where high-quality products
can be enjoyed.
Toscana
is a
region famous for its cities of art, its great historical heritage
and celebrated characters, its landscapes, Medieval villages and
farms nestled among olive groves, cypress trees and vineyards, in a
unique and striking natural environment. Here "agritourism" has had
the wisdom to propitiate the now consolidated integration of all
these aspects, emphasized in part by the "wine route" that links
cities and remote farms, long established wine shops and village
wine cellars. In the areas of Maremma and Chianti in particular,
there are many promotional events. One of these is the Cantine
Aperte ("Open Cellars") event, lasting from May to June, during
which the local producers invite the tourists to visit their cellars
and sample their rare wines. The "agritourism" of
Toscana is
extremely varied, adapting every possible county structure to cater
for guests, from plainly rustic cottages to modern houses, and for
the elite villas and castles equipped with
swimming
pools and golf courses, and offering long rides on horseback through
the hills of Chianti. In
Umbria
the
farm holiday structure fits perfectly in the extraordinary setting
of historical and artistic cities, proposing interesting itineraries
on the theme of the region's increasingly appreciated gastronomy.
Every year, on the last Sunday of May, the Cantine Aperte ("Open
Cellars") event is held, when a great number of farms prepare an
"open day" for visitors, with excellent wines, local specialities,
music and art.
In the
Marche
"agritourism" is closely related to an economy originating from an
ancient metayage tradition. Those travelling through the local
countryside, therefore, may find hospitality in the old manor houses
or holdings, where visitors are always welcomed with kindness and
generosity. In
Lazio
the area that excels for its
farm holiday structures is the
province of Viterbo, where the farms offer
high-quality and varied hospitality and tourist facilities in an
environment rich in historical and archaeological remains,
traditions and landscapes of great beauty. To promote both the local
products and the artistic and monumental heritage of the area the
"Wine
Route of Upper
Tuscia" was established, linking a series of farms
producing wine, olive oil and other particularly prized products, as
well as, naturally, a number of excellent farm holiday structures.
In
Campania
the best "agritourism" farms
are concentrated in the coastal area, in perfect continuity with the
well-known tourist/seaside tradition of the region which, thanks to
the magnificent views offered by the local landscapes, guarantees
unforgettable holidays.
There
are also many farm holiday structures throughout the region of
Abruzzo,
which are capable of meeting
a wide variety of demands. The activities offered include horse
riding, guided walking tours, excursions on rented bicycles, fishing
and courses in handicrafts and cooking with farm local products.
Some structures are equipped with facilities such as tennis courts,
swimming pools or archery fields, and accommodation is often offered
concurrently with the main cultural and folklore festivals. An
important sector of activity is education, with the organization of
educational day trips to the farms for school groups. In
|
