Agriturismo Le Marche Italy
An Italian agriturismo is basically an Italian farm that produces and offers food and often hospitality to customers, many have a restaurant or holiday accommodation.
Our Italian farmhouse has been converted like an agriturismo but as we only have 3 hectares we do not produce enough food to meet the requirements for an Agriturismo in Italy.
Whilst we have a flourishing vineyard, grow herbs, fruit and vegetables for our guests and rent our land to an organic sheep farmers, we cannot benefit from the substantial Le Marche agriturismo tax breaks on offer without land rental away from the villa.
Consequently, you will find everything at Villa San Raffaello as you would at an Italian agritourism but we are classified as “casa and apartamenti in affito”. Our guests still take our produce straight from our land and from local artisans to their tables and enjoy our wonderful organic seasonal produce for free.
Our old farmhouse was constructed in the 19C and was totally restored by us in 2005 to include all modern conveniences. The farm or Villa now includes a large swimming pool and a vineyard, plus each year we sow vegetables and grow these organically so that our guests are guaranteed fresh, tasty food that is kind to the environment.
What is an Italian Agriturismo
Agriturismo –combines “tourism” and “agriculture” and is a style of vacation or holiday in a farmhouse that was passed as law 1985.
An Italy agriturismo vacation provides food for guests using raw produce from the farm or at least locally. Some agriturismi also permit customers to participate in the activities on the farm.
The history of Agriturismo Italy
In the postwar period through to the 1970s, smaller farms in Italy became less profitable, and, many farmers left their farms in search of work in larger towns.
Despite the lack of profitability, Italians continue to place importance on loyalty to customs and traditions and especially artisan food production, and by 1985 a law defined agriturismo and many abandoned property and estates started to bee restored, some for vacation rentals, and many for agritourism.
The contadini owners of agritourismi benefit from reduced taxation and from grants, and by opening their farmhouses for holidays and vacations in Italy; this has allowed the small farmer to augment the income from the farm, and for those on holiday or vacation to sample wonderful rural life in Italy.
Frequently agriturismi are inexpensive and help to drive down the prices being charged for holidays in Italy. 
Why an Italian Agriturismo holiday in Marche
If your working life has left you feeling fried, head for the glorious rolling Italian hills and unwind in an agriturismo. As the name implies, agriturismi are in the countryside, although some are located within a mile of town.
As for Le Marche, it has beeen called the new Tuscany and all of Italy in one region, but visit our site pages on things to do and the region itself and you will be astounded at this relatively undiscovered but stunning area.
