You can’t beat an agriturismo. The rural locations, the owners whose primary occupation is farming, and the food and drink produced on site all contribute to a charming and informal stay experience. They rarely have a reception desk and there are dogs and crowing roosters to deal with, but they offer great food and a friendly welcome. And not all of them are buried in the countryside; Agribusinesses abound along Italy’s 5,000 miles of coast. Here are 10 within walking or biking distance of the beach.
Barrani, Liguria
Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s top destinations and may have the crowds and prices to match, but this family farm’s five hectares of grapes and olive groves are in the quieter village of Corniglia. A 15-minute walk from the station (there’s also a shuttle bus), it has six en-suite rooms and dinner might be pansotti (triangle dumplings) with borage and walnut sauce, followed by stuffed mussels. The rocky bay of Corniglia is a 7-minute walk away and there are walking paths from the door to other villages.
Half board doubles from €75 per person; barrani.it
Gli Agrumeti sul Mare, Sicily
You can benefit from the lemon, tangerine and orange trees surrounding this old farmhouse between Mount Etna and the sea. Dogs are welcome in all four apartments, one of which is suitable for wheelchair users. The sandy and pebbly beach is 200 meters away, while lively Catania, flamboyant Taormina and baroque Acireale can be reached in less than an hour by car. Owner Giovanni Russo will take guests on a tour of the Galeano Mazzullo distillery founded by his great-grandfather.
couples €60 room only; agriturismorussorocca.it
L’Acacia, Tuscany
A mile from the Tyrrhenian coast, overlooking Elba, this farm offers five apartments, from a cozy four-poster to a six-bed studio, as well as home-cooked breakfasts and dinners. There are tennis courts, a football pitch, a swimming pool, a playground and bikes to rent for a short ride from Rimigliano natural park to the coast. Miles of undeveloped sandy beach include a nature reserve and a “dog beach” (four-legged guests are welcome at the agriturismo). Pisa is an hour’s drive away, with Siena and Florence a little further away.
studio apartment 65€ per night Self-service; lacacia.it
Tenuta Vigna Corallo, Puglia
Otranto, on Puglia’s Adriatic coast, is a beautiful port with a castle and stunning 12th-century mosaics in its cathedral. This vineyard a few kilometers north offers 18 stylish apartments for two to six people, with terraces and shared pools. The fine white sand beach is a 300 meter walk through a private walkway through oak forests. Guests can take part in wine tastings, try a day in the vegetable gardens (special activities for children), or help with the grape harvest.
Studio starts from €134 per night; tenutacorallo.it
Podere Giulio, Lazio
Located 800 meters from the Maremma beach, this terracotta farmhouse has 11 spacious suites. All suites have furnished patios and garden access, and some have a kitchenette. Guests can also use the pool at Podere del Gesso, 200 meters away. The restaurant uses home-grown meat and vegetables and serves wood-fired pizzas as well as homemade jams and juices for breakfast. There are 3,000-year-old Etruscan ruins 16 kilometers away in Tarquinia, which is on the UNESCO list. Rome and Vatican City are an hour away by train from here.
Doubles from €110 B&B; poderegiulio.it
Torre Cangiani, Campania
The Amalfi coast is deservedly popular for its colorful villages, steep cliffs and ostentatious villas. Built around a 17th-century pirate tower west of Sorrento, this organic farm is set amid olive and lemon groves and offers four elegant rooms and a two-bedroom apartment, all with stunning views. Homegrown olive oil, tomatoes, honey, canned vegetables and jam are used for breakfast and dinner. Parking and driving are difficult here, but there are buses to Sorrento (for hydrofoil to Capri) and Positano. The beach at Marina di Puolo is approximately 1 mile away.
couples €110 bed and breakfast; torrecangiani.com/it
Zio Cristoforo, Cilento
The less flashy Cilento region south of the Amalfi coast offers rolling hills, quiet beaches, lower prices and a slower pace. Located on an olive-covered hill above Casal Velino Marina, this farm has rooms and four apartments, and its restaurant was a Sky TV finalist. 4 Restaurants sherry. The winding, palm-shaded pool looks particularly inviting after a day’s stroll along one of 10 well-marked routes, the beach is a half-hour walk or five minutes by bike (more on the way back!) and you’re within easy reach of Paestum’s magnificent Greek ruins. Reached by car.
Doubles from €110 B&B; agriturismoziocristoforo.com,
Acqua di Friso, Calabria
For those who love sun, sand and food, this farm on Italy’s Ionian coast takes its name from an ancient Greek spring. The 17-hectare area leading to the sea was saved from desertification with 12,000 trees and an organic vegetable garden planted in 1990. The wild, white-sand beach, an area of scientific interest, is accessed by a remote-controlled gate, so it’s never crowded. There’s also a pool, healthy weekends, cooking classes, art exhibitions and an award-winning restaurant.
Pairs starting from €85 bed and breakfasts; acquadifriso.it
Fiori del Conero, Le Marche
Conero regional park is a beautiful area of the Adriatic coast with white bays beneath high cliffs, and this farm is located at the northern end and is within bus ride of Ancona cathedral, port and Roman ruins. The nine rooms and apartments have terraces overlooking the sea, and Silvano, the friendly host, will recommend places to visit, make restaurant reservations and show guests around citrus, olive groves and delicious plantations. Paccassi (samphire). Wild Spiaggia del Baffo can be reached in 10 minutes by bike.
couples from €Only 73 rooms, booking.com
La Casa di Spinosella, Sardinia
Sardinia’s north coast, facing Corsica, has long sandy beaches and secluded coves, and just half a mile inland this family farm has converted a former shepherd’s house into rooms and apartments with stunning sea views. The silver sands of La Ciaccia beach can be reached in approximately 15 minutes via a secluded path. Breakfast can include salami and ham from the farm’s pigs, as well as ricotta and hard cheeses from their own sheep. You can reach Alghero by car in just over an hour.
Pairs starting from €68 bed and breakfasts; agriturismofinagliosu.it.