Horses, palaces and grapes
Every area of Italy is famous for certain products. It is well known that olives and grapes grow in almost all regions, but it is believed that the best table grapes are harvested in Sicily, while Tuscany, on the contrary, is known for wine varieties – for example, for the famous Chianti, and grapes for food are grown there in small quantities. The same is true with olive oil: Tuscan and Umbrian have a very bright taste and smell, which are especially appreciated by Italian gourmets, while the little-known Ligurian, very soft, with a light fruity taste, will appeal to ordinary consumers from anywhere in the world. Natural conditions also play an important role: in areas where rice grows well, it is pointless to set up vineyards or orchards – this land is not suitable for them.
Having determined his preferences, the investor can choose a place that meets all his requirements. It is worth remembering, however, that under Italian law, owning land does not give you the right to do whatever you want with it. If the site was previously agricultural, and the new owners have other plans, first of all they must apply to the local municipality for permission for a new activity.
Some farmers are lucky: their possessions seem to be specially created for agrotourism. So, Fano's Farm in the Piedmont region is very conveniently located between Milan and Turin, just 10 km from Lake Maggiore and, consequently, the "Gardens of Italy" – beautiful parks on the shores of the lake. There is no need to explain what Milan and Turin are good for, but Lake Maggiore, the second largest in Italy, is still almost unknown to Russians. Without exaggeration, the best private parks and gardens in Italy, open to the public, are concentrated in its surroundings. Tourists are attracted by palaces and the richest arboretums on the islands of Borromeo Bella and Madre; the villa of the Marquises of Pallavicino is visited for the sake of a huge flower garden and a small zoo; the Alpinia Park, located at an altitude of 800 m, is famous for the collection of Alpine flora collected here; about 20,000 species of plants can be observed at Villa Tarranto.
The owners of the farm, Illeana Fossati and her companions, decided to take advantage of such an advantageous neighborhood: they allocated rooms for guests on the ground floor of their large house and renovated them. The owners are mainly engaged in horse breeding, but also grow corn on the lands adjacent to the pasture, so that the holdings can be used in the agrotourism sector. In addition to the fact that the owners receive direct income from renting out rooms, they also enjoy some tax benefits: for example, they do not need to pay real estate tax. But it is precisely because of the benefits that the state carefully controls whether agricultural work is actually being carried out on the site.
Rural residences
When the owners of the farm decided to engage in agrotourism, they received their main income from horse breeding. Today there are 32 horses on the farm: some regularly participate in competitions, others are intended for sale, and about half live on full board, having completed their sports career.
Almost all the horses on the Quarter Horse farm are American cowboy horses, and they are trained for dressage in the Western style, which is more practical and natural compared to classic dressage. Due to their thick fur, animals can live in open pastures all year round, and only sports horses live in the stable. Every year three foals are born on the farm, they are raised and sold, most often to France, Germany or other regions of Italy. Finally, another type of income related to horses is the fee for individual riding lessons at 25 euros per hour.
The sale of agricultural products from this farm does not so much bring profit as it provides an opportunity to earn money for the maintenance of the estate, feed and veterinary care of horses.
The guest rooms in the farmhouse can be considered a full-fledged apartment. On an area of 30 to 70 sq. m. there is everything necessary for life: a studio that combines the functions of a bedroom, living room and kitchen, a corridor with a built-in wardrobe and a bathroom. In Italy, this type of housing is called residence and is highly appreciated: on the one hand, guests do not depend on the owners and live almost at home; on the other hand, it is a fairly economical solution, because in terms of each family member, residence is cheaper than a hotel.
Illeana Fossati welcomes guests all year round, which is not typical for most tourist establishments in the country. Usually in Italy they adhere to a seasonal schedule, that is, hotels operate from March to October, or, if we are talking about ski resorts, from November to April, but in any case, you need to work on the farm all year round. Depending on the season, rooms cost from 350 to 520 euros per week, and two–bedroom apartments cost from 600 to 650 euros per week. Such not too high prices are explained not only by the modesty of the owners, but also by the location of the farm: Piedmont is not Tuscany, and asking for 120 euros per room per day here is pointless.
Illeana is pleased that in 2005 she decided to rent a house: agrotourism helps to maintain the estate, and clients often become good friends of the owners and return again. At the same time, she does not plan to expand the farm yet: the renovation of new premises will require investments, and the flow of tourists is not so great. To the frequent questions of guests why there is no cafe or restaurant here, the answer is simple: the farm specializes in horses, it makes no sense to hire staff for a cafe, and guests who always arrive by car can independently visit the best restaurants of the nearest settlements, Suno (the wine capital of the Novara region) and Arona (a city on the shores of Lake Maggiore with lots of restaurants).
How to become a farmer
Tuscany and Umbria are two regions in Central Italy where agrotourism is perhaps more widespread than in other regions. The ownership of "Three Pines" is typical in the Italian agrotourism sector, as well as the main activity of the farm, the cultivation of olives and grapes, is very typical for the country. In addition, calves are bred for meat and horses are kept here – for themselves and for tourists.
The large house is located on hills covered with vineyards and olive groves, which occupy a total of 11 hectares of land. Guests are offered 3 rooms for two and a guest apartment for 5 people. The prices for accommodation are quite affordable: in low season – from 30 euros per person, in high season – from 50 euros. At the same time, rooms should be reserved in advance, at least three months in advance, otherwise there will be no free places. The owners also keep a restaurant, and they treat their guests so deliciously and abundantly that gourmets come to them specially even from other regions.
The location of the "Three Pines" is also very convenient: the property is located near Grosseto, a city with a population of 77,000 inhabitants, which is the capital of the region of the same name. The whole of this region, Maremma (part of Tuscany), is known for its 4 nature reserves. The sea is only 12 km from Grosseto, 71 km from Siena, 140 km from Florence, 180 km from Rome. Thus, "Three Pines" are equally attractive for lovers of nature and animals, history and culture, good cuisine and the sea.
It is not difficult to purchase a country house with a large plot of land for agricultural activities, the supply in this sector is always great. In the north and in the center of Italy, prices for such facilities are traditionally higher, sometimes even twice as high as in the south and on the islands. The cost of a house increases if it is located in a popular place among vacationers, but in this case you can be sure that thermal waters, magnificent views or the proximity of the sea will attract tourists.
The second important factor is the condition of the house and land. For example, in Umbria, you can buy a very old villa in need of major repairs at a price of about 1,000 euros per 1 sq. m. At the same time, the reconstruction of a 300 sq. m house (the project also provides for an outdoor pool in the garden) will cost 580,000 euros. As a result, everything will be arranged in accordance with the customer's requirements, but the work will take at least a year.
There, in Umbria, near the town of Terni, a newly renovated villa with an area of 415 sq. m is offered for sale. m and a plot of 6 hectares at a price of 935,000 euros. This is a beautiful old building, in the highest part of which, the historical tower, there are 4 floors. On the ground floor there is a kitchen, a spacious living room, office space and two bathrooms. On the second floor there are three bedrooms with a bathroom in each and a small study. On the third floor there is an extensive master bedroom with a large bathroom. Finally, on the fourth floor, in the tower, there is the master's office.
