Agriturismo in Lazio with Spa, Barbecue

Farm stays in Lazio have one obvious advantage: Rome. Many working farms lie within an hour of the city, which makes it possible to visit the Vatican in the morning and eat food grown on the property that evening. Beyond the capital, the region is far emptier than most visitors expect.

Where to base yourself

The Castelli Romani, in volcanic hills just south-east of Rome, combine vineyards, crater lakes and papal Castel Gandolfo. North of the city, the Tuscia around Viterbo is Etruscan country — tufa towns, hot springs and Lake Bolsena — and the least expensive part of the region. The Sabina hills to the north-east produce a well-regarded olive oil. Towards Naples, the Ciociaria and the coast around Sperlonga and Gaeta offer beaches without the Amalfi prices.

What to expect on the farm

• Sabina olive oil, from groves worked since Roman times
• Frascati and other Castelli whites, and Cesanese, the region's red
• Buffalo mozzarella from the southern coastal plain around Fondi
• Artichokes, chicory and puntarelle, the vegetables Roman cooking is built on
• Farms near stations on the Rome commuter lines, letting you visit the city without a car

Timing

Spring and autumn are ideal: Rome is comfortable and the countryside is at its best. Summer in the city is hot, which is precisely the argument for staying outside it, near a lake or on higher ground. Winter is mild and this is when farms are cheapest, with the olive harvest running from late October.

Fiumicino and Ciampino make the region easy to reach from anywhere in Europe. Suburban trains serve the Castelli, Viterbo and the coast; elsewhere, a car is needed.

In Lazio we have 165 farmhouses, including 105 with swimming pool, 88 with restaurant and 70 pet friendly.