7 green agritourisms in Campania for the perfect combination of eco-sustainability and food

Only 9 km from Sorrento, in the hills of Sant'Agata Sui Due Golfi, is Fattoria Terranova. You will be charmed by a walk through olive groves, vineyards and citrus orchards, before heading to the restaurant for dinner.

On the plate, produce from the surrounding 6 hectares of land takes centre stage: typical local products are used to create dishes that are divine. Antipasti of vegetables from the garden, tubettoni pasta with white onion as the first course, salt cod to follow and escarole as a side dish. We end with a babà, drinking limoncello made from the fruits of the Amalfi Coast.

For the full experience, why not spend the night here in one of the beautiful rooms, and take part in a local cooking class, organised on site. This way you’ll experience the full range of emotions!

Again on the Sorrento peninsula, amidst sea and countryside, a family that owns the farm has been cultivating olives, lemons, grapevines and vegetables for generations.

Take a seat under the pergolas overlooking the sea; the climate is mild even in the off seasons. Sample the braided mozzarella, cherry tomatoes from the garden and bread with excellent oil, all typical products of Campania. Enjoy some self-produced wine, as well as citrus or blueberry-based spirits. It is worth spending the night here because waking up is truly sweet: a breakfast rich in homemade cakes and fragrant jams awaits you. 

On a tour of the Cilento, this is an essential stop. You can stay in the rustic apartments surrounded by greenery and taste the specialities of the restaurant, where the products used travel only a short distance: from the family's organically farmed estate, they land directly on your plate.

Or just pop in to buy the ‘bruised' olives and cacioricotta cheese, both Slow Food products, along with culatello cured meat, products in oil, jams, and their own extra virgin olive oil.

The vegetable garden and the restaurant, which are closely linked, are the two jewels in the crown of Fontana Madonna in Upper Irpinia, in the leafy district of the same name. Pure authenticity of flavour and traditional cultivation methods distinguish the production of fine olive oil, chickpeas and broad beans, spicy 'quaglietto' chilli peppers and sun-kissed tomatoes.

At the table, order cicatielli, the traditional handmade pasta, and pork shin, before resting in the few adjoining rooms.

Eco-friendly luxury, rural tradition and avant-garde wellness. You will find all of this in the Salerno area, in an oasis in San Gregorio Magno. The spa offers a rich selection of treatments, but one thing in particular that’s worth trying is the bio salt-water pool that purifies the skin, without the aggressiveness of chlorine, and provides magnificent relaxation.

La Sfruscià is also a farm, and many of the products are cooked in the restaurant. Try the cavatelli with ragù, or the minestra maritata, lamb and mountain potatoes, while drinking intense reds: Aglianico and Nero d'Avola.

In the Avellino area, you will find this establishment that promotes sustainable agriculture and protects biodiversity. The farm has in fact planted ancient local species: 40 varieties of apple, pear, fig and cherry trees at risk of extinction, as well as two local breeds, the Laticauda sheep and the Valfortorina goat breed.

Your eco-holiday will also be an in-depth study of these rarities that have been rescued from extinction. Take a walk in the hills among the 25 hectares of the estate, admire the olive trees and the orchard before tasting the home-baked bread with wild herbs, to be dressed with Ravece extra virgin olive oil. Don't forget to also try the rosemary zeppole and rabbit from the farm. The four bedrooms are right there waiting for you.

There is a place on the Amalfi Coast where everything is organic. The four overnight rooms smell of chestnut wood and are furnished with 19th-century family furniture, in keeping with the philosophy of creative reuse. There is no restaurant here, but the breakfast is as rustic as it is sumptuous, with cheeses and cold cuts, cakes and homemade jams.

This is the right place for those who love active holidays in nature, thanks to a team of hiking guides who will take you along the paths of the Coast for scenic treks. Before saying goodbye, pick up the gourmet jewels: saffron, oregano and tomatoes.

Credit image © Regione Campania