Agriturismo in Tuscany with Spa, Barbecue

Farm stays in Tuscany are working farms that host guests: vineyards around Siena, olive groves in the Chianti hills, cereal and sheep farms across the Val d'Orcia. Italian law requires an agriturismo to remain an active agricultural business, which is why a stay here comes with the farm's own wine, oil and cheese rather than hotel catering.

Where to base yourself

The Chianti strip between Florence and Siena is the classic first choice: medieval villages, cellar visits and short drives to both cities. The Val d'Orcia, south of Siena, is quieter and more scenic, with Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano within half an hour of each other. The Maremma, along the southern coast, combines farmland with beaches and thermal springs, and stays warm well into October. For walking and chestnut woods rather than vines, the Garfagnana in the north-west is far less travelled.

What a Tuscan farm stay usually includes

• Breakfast built around the farm's own produce, often with cakes baked that morning
• Wine tastings on site where the estate bottles its own Chianti, Brunello or Vernaccia
• Cooking classes centred on pasta, ribollita and seasonal vegetables
• Apartments with kitchens as well as rooms, which suits families and longer stays
• A pool, in a large share of properties, usually set among the vines or olive trees

When to come

May, June and September are the most comfortable months, with warm days and manageable crowds. The grape harvest runs from late August into early October and is the liveliest time on a wine estate; the olive harvest follows in November, when many farms press their oil and prices drop. July and August are hot inland and busiest, so book early if you need a pool.

Most farms sit several kilometres from the nearest village along unpaved lanes, so a car is effectively essential. Pisa and Florence airports are the usual arrival points, and driving times from either to the Chianti or the Val d'Orcia run from one to two hours.

In Tuscany we have 751 farmhouses, including 536 with swimming pool, 298 with restaurant and 400 pet friendly.