farms to stay at

You are thinking of "Agriturismo". Here is a good website for a start:

http://en.agriturismo.it/

We'll be staying at this one:

http://www.poderepoggetto.it/IndexHomeEng.html

Also see http://www.agriturismo.net/

You could also check out the Italian Agriturismos link on the Graffiti Wall page of this website.

Let me add a few notes about agriturismos. Most only rent by the full week, and it must be Saturday-to-Saturday, but with some looking you can find some that rent for a minimum of 3 nights, and a few will rent for a single night.

But the best ones, the ones where you get to take part in pasta making, watch the grape harvest, etc., seem to be the full week places where you get a more full immersion into the farm life.

Some have no owners present and you're pretty much on your own. Some have owners right there with you, which gives more contact with locals and, probably, a better experience for you.

Some just have rooms available so it's like having a hotel room, usually with daily maid service, but you're in the country. These rooms often come with breakfast included.

Others have apartments with kitchenettes so you can buy food at a grocery store and cook some of your own meals. This saves money and can be satisfying as well. Apartments usually don't have daily cleaning service included. They just clean it up at the end of your stay.

Some have both rooms and apartments available. Some have a restaurant on site, some don't.

So as you see, there are a lot of options and no two agriturismos are exactly alike. It can take a lot of research to find the one that's perfect for you, but it's out there somewhere!

We are staying outside of Siena at Il Canto del Sole. Recommended on www.tripadvisor.com. The website is ilcantodelsole.com

Agriturismo Leoni for us in two weeks.

Patrick,

you're right that booking at an agriturismo is often more restrictive. But in the end I think it's great that it forces the tourist to slow down the pace of travel. That gives you the opportunity for a very different way to experience the country.

If you are interested in the very picturesque South Tirol area, there is an extensive array of farms offering lodging (incl. day to day). Visit www.roterhahn.it or its English language website www.redrooster.it