Agriturismo in Calabria with Restaurant, Riding

Farm stays in Calabria offer the longest coastline in mainland Italy and, immediately behind it, three mountain ranges. Prices here are the lowest in the country for this kind of stay, and the farms are almost entirely aimed at Italian visitors rather than international ones.

Where to base yourself

The Tyrrhenian side, around Tropea and Capo Vaticano, has the clearest water and the famous red onions grown on the terraces above the sea. The Sila plateau, in the centre, is high pine and beech forest with lakes, cattle and cool summers — it does not feel southern at all. The Pollino, on the Basilicata border, is Italy's largest national park, with Arbëreshë villages founded by Albanian refugees five centuries ago. The Ionian side around Locride is drier, with bergamot groves found almost nowhere else on earth.

What these farms produce

• Bergamot, grown almost exclusively on this coast, and its oil and preserves
• Tropea onions, 'nduja and chilli — the backbone of Calabrian cooking
• Caciocavallo silano and pecorino from the Sila herds
• Citrus, figs and olives from smallholdings that sell direct
• Beaches within half an hour of most coastal-hill farms, at inland prices

Timing and access

May, June, September and early October are ideal, with sea temperatures holding well into autumn. July and August are hot and Italian families fill the coast. The Sila works as a summer refuge and has modest skiing in winter. Many coastal farms close between November and March.

Lamezia Terme is the main airport, with some direct European flights; the drive from Naples is around four hours. Roads improve constantly but mountain routes remain slow, and a car is essential everywhere.

In Calabria we have 75 farmhouses, including 41 with swimming pool, 61 with restaurant and 33 pet friendly.