Tuscany Is Favorite Destination for Countryside Holidays

| Fri, 01/31/2014 - 01:00

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Chianti area of Tuscany retains the lead as the top destination for farm holidays (agriturismo) preferred by both Italians and foreigners.

According to a survey carried out by Coldiretti (leading organization for the farming industry) and Terranostra (an association for the valorization of countryside areas), holidays in Chianti have increased by 2.5%, with 46% of foreigners and 59% of Italians choosing Chianti and Tuscany when planning a vacation in the countryside.

It is not surprising given all that Tuscany has to offer: beautiful landscapes, historic little towns, nature, artistic heritage and first-class culinary specialties. Tuscany boasts in fact 463 specialty food products, 24 marked as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin - DOP in Italian) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication - IGP in Italian) products, including Colonnata lard, typical of the Apuan Alps, Lunigiana honey, Tuscan Pecorino, saffron from San Gimignano and Ricciarelli di Siena, to name just a few.

In Tuscany, the number of agriturismi have increased 16% since 2007 to 4,187 authorized facilities; 1,707 of those businesses are run by women, 23% on a national level.

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