As I mentioned before, we took a little trip down to southern Sicily while Elliott’s parents were visiting. We spent our one night away in an agriturismo, or a “farm stay.” Agritourism is popular in Italy, especially with families: the kids love the animals and the space to run around, the parents love the prices and the experience! We’ve stayed in a couple of other agriturismi which you can read about here and here.
We stayed in Villa Diana, an agriturismo just a few minutes outside of Agrigento. The owner and host, Dario, was kind and accommodating (and quirky). The rooms were spacious and each one was one vibrant color; we stayed in “Il Pistachio” which was verdantly green and my parents-in-law stayed in “Il Mandarino” which was vibrantly orange. Although there were many things that made us raise our eyebrows (the miniscule elevator, the plaster falling off the walls on the outside of the building, the trinkets enclosed in glass display cases throughout the house), we all had a wonderful time and would definitely go back. Here are a few photos from our stay.
There were chickens (with eggs!), donkeys, goats, sheep, and a couple of dogs on the property. Lena loved all of them. And who are we kidding? So did we!
^^^ Ahh, a sleeping babe… and a sweet grandmother! The agriturismo itself is in the background. 
^^^ Loved this daddy goat’s horns!
^^^ My veterinarian husband.
^^^ The donkey was just a month old.
The agriturismo itself was surprisingly decorated inside with gilded, antique furniture that I assume are family heirlooms. This is the breakfast room, where we were served fresh pastries, eggs cooked to order, hot coffee and tea, and freshly squeezed blood orange juice.
^^^ Check out that glass of blood orange juice in front of Lena! So red.
Lena finished off our visit with a very serious game of chess. Just kidding…. The chess set was missing two pawns, and we laughed later when we learned from our friends (who had stayed there three weeks before us) admitted their kids had broken them. Lena almost broke or lost a couple of pieces herself. Leaving our marks on the world everywhere with our children….
Do you know if there are places like this elsewhere in the world? I haven’t heard of the farm/B&B combo in the States but I’m sure they must exist. Have you ever stayed at a place like this?
This looks like a great place! I know of several bed and breakfast farms in our area that allow the guests to “hang out in the barn” with the animals, etc…but nothing so fancy as this one! :) We tried it for a while, but our kids were small, and we would have had to make some structural changes to the house to make it work efficiently. Maybe some day! I think it’s great when people take interest in farming, and seeing where their food really comes from!
Yes, I’m sure it would take so much forethought to turn your own home and farm into an agriturismo. This family lived on the top floor of a large three-storey house. I think that could be an ideal situation, but I’m sure the agriturismo was built to order.
What a fun alternative to a family get away! I am loving the decor in the agriturismo.
It was the definition of chabby chic, Esther… the Italian version, not the American one. The breakfast room was brighter and lighter than the rest of the house; it was my favorite room, I think!
They have several in Brazil. When we were kids our family would often vacation to “hotel fazendas” around the country. A fun and relaxing get-a-way. Also great places for family reunions with several cousins. I love your blog, thanks for posting them on facebook because now without google reader I never know when a blog I used to read has updated.
We always find in Italy that things are just not quite as charming as we expect them to be… at least that’s often true in Sicily and at Sicilian agriturismi. Did you find that in Brazil? The rough edges have their own endearing charm, though.
Bec, we used to do these in Australia. You kids loved them. Remember the place in Bundaberg in Queensland where we had poisonous cane toads on the porch and bright green frogs in the middle of the aloe plants? Or the one in the Victorian mountains where we got to see the wombat? So glad you guys got to do that. Loved the pics of Lena and the animals of God’s wonderful creation. May she have sweet memories of all these times. Poppy
I do remember! The first one was where we saw “The Man from Snowy River” for the first time. The second one had no electricity; we used gas lamps. I guess the ones in Sicily aren’t quite as rough and tough as the Outback versions…
THE GOAT WITH THE HORNS
I know… I think I took about 20 pictures of him, trying to get a good shot! I want goats now.
Hi, I’m Roberta Cerrone and I work for Agriturismo.it.
It’s always nice for us to read about great vacations at an agriturismo! :)
If you want you can share your experience in a review for Villa Diana here: https://www.agriturismo.it/en/farmhouse/sicily/agrigento/BedandBreakfastVillaDiana-1410929/reviews.html
Thanks for your comment, Roberta! I’ll leave a review now. :-)
Thanks for your comment, Roberta! I’ll leave a review for Villa Diana right now. :-)