a farm stay website: the place, the seasons, the rules

business · 2026-10-29 · 4 min

agriturismo is a word with rules

"agriturismo" is not a design theme, it is a business recognised and classified by the region. if the site says agriturismo and the farm is registered as a guesthouse, the first inspection is also the last. the regional classification has to be reported as it is: in emilia-romagna it is the sunflowers, one per level, and that symbol must match the one on the gate.

the same goes for the activities you are authorised for: accommodation, meals, direct sales, educational farm. if meals are reserved for guests, or by reservation only, that belongs on the homepage, not on the info page nobody opens.

telling the place without writing a brochure

the difference between a story and a brochure is a detail that cannot be invented. not "nestled in greenery", but the name of the wood, the road that runs past the house, the dog that greets the cars, the tractor starting at six. people choosing a farm stay are looking for a specific place, not an idea of the countryside.

write about who works there: who cooks, who walks guests through the vineyard, who looks after the animals. a real photo of the kitchen with pots on the stove says more than ten images of laid tables. if the place is awkward to reach, say so: it is a filter, and filters bring the right people.

seasons, produce, the table

a farm changes with the seasons, and the site should change with it. there is no harvest in winter: if the homepage stays in september for eight months, anyone arriving in march understands how closely you follow the site. one line about the current season costs little and is worth a lot.

for the table, the menu needs allergens, like any business serving food. if you sell produce, separate what you grow from what you buy, and do not use "zero miles" unless it can be checked. no health claims: olive oil cures nothing, it is simply good.

booking without middlemen

people who book direct want three things: whether there is room, the total price, and what happens if they cancel. add a calendar, the deposit required and the cancellation policy in plain words. if you take groups, state the maximum; if you take pets, state which ones and under what rules.

the gallery is what convinces: rooms, table, outdoors, animals, different seasons. few photos, chosen, that open fast: if you want a method, i wrote about adding a gallery. and list the closing periods: a site that looks always open generates requests you have to refuse.

this week: check that the classification on the site matches the one in the regional licence.

faq

do i have to state the classification?

if the business is classified, yes, and it must match the symbol displayed on site. it is not decoration: it is information a guest uses to know what to expect.

can i call it agriturismo if i only rent rooms?

no, if the business is not registered as an agriturismo. the right name is the one on the licence, and getting it right avoids trouble with inspections and platforms.

does the menu need updating every day?

no, but it must say what changes with the season and list allergens. if the menu has been the same for years, say so: it is a choice, as long as it is true.