The Italian Vacation!

More Italians Headed to Farms for Vacation
Vacation farms and agriturismi are expecting full occupancy this Ferragosto weekend. While Italians traditionally head to the beach, more and more are discovering the joys of rural tourism. Italian news agency ANSA reports that there are now 18,500 holiday farms in Italy and they're expecting 550,000 overnights over the three-day holiday weekend.These numbers may be impressive, but they might not spell big business for the farmhouse owners themselves, who can expect to see reduced profit margins as the total number of farmhouses continues to grow. The Italian travel magazine Gente Viaggi reported earlier this year that the number of holiday farms in Italy has almost doubled since 1999. The most popular regions for visiting farms or agriturismi are Tuscany, Sicily and Lombardy. These establishments provide a uniquely Italian experience as only 25% of farm tourists were foreigners last year. --Justine Gregory