Farm Stays in Lombardy

Farm stays in Lombardy are more varied than the region's industrial reputation suggests. Lombardy is Italy's largest producer of milk and rice, and its farms range from lakeside olive and vine estates to rice farms on the plain and dairy holdings high in the Valtellina.

Where to base yourself

The southern shores of Lake Garda and the hills of Franciacorta, near Brescia, hold vineyards producing Italy's best-known traditional-method sparkling wine, with spa towns nearby. Around Lake Como and Lake Iseo the farms are small and steep. South of Milan, the Lomellina and the Po plain are rice country — flooded fields in spring, herons, and long cycling routes. In the north-east, the Valtellina climbs to terraced vineyards and alpine pastures where Bitto and Valtellina Casera cheeses are made.

What these farms offer

• Franciacorta tastings at the estates that produce it
• Rice sold direct from the farm, including the Carnaroli used for risotto
• Alpine cheeses made in mountain dairies during the summer pasture season
• Farms within an hour of Milan, useful for combining countryside with the city
• Cycling on the plain and hiking in the Orobie and Stelvio parks

Timing

Spring and autumn suit the lakes and the hills best; the plain is humid in midsummer and foggy in winter. The Valtellina works in both summer for walking and winter for skiing at Bormio and Livigno. Rice fields are flooded and mirror-like from April to June.

Milan's three airports and Bergamo make the region one of the easiest to reach in Italy, and rail links to the lakes are good. For farms in the hills or the Valtellina a car is still needed.

In Lombardy we have 149 farmhouses, including 42 with swimming pool, 74 with restaurant and 80 pet friendly.