The rural complex in which the agrotourism activity is carried out is located in the center of a farm, owned entirely by the Salvadori family.
The current owner’s grandparents were direct farmers all their lives until they reached retirement age. Later, in July 2000, Cristina continued farming with the clear intention of starting an agritourism business on the farm.
There are many reasons that drove her to this choice, first and foremost the realisation that embarking on an entrepreneurial activity in the agricultural sector would have tied her inextricably to her land both physically and emotionally, exposing her to the risk of being isolated.
Cristina accidentally saw an article in a magazine about agritourism, its potential and economic benefits, and the desire to try to do something similar on her farm was born. His father’s support was decisive, who happened to be in contact with a consultant from the CIA association and learned about the funding opportunity for young farmers under the rural development plan.
After an initial phase of self-financed work aimed at the structural consolidation of the building, carried out between 2000 and 2002, the opportunity arose to receive a grant for the construction of the facilities and the conversion of the structures from production to living quarters.
It took almost two years of work, completed in 2004, to allow the transformation of the rooms that were previously dedicated to agricultural activity, such as stables, storage rooms, tobacco dryers, and pigsties, into 6 rooms that still preserve the history of a past agricultural activity.
Cristina did not attend any educational courses in the tourism sector, but the region of Tuscany did organise a course for agritourism operators, which took place in 2003, the year in which the current regional law regulating the sector came into force. Cristina therefore gained knowledge through direct experience in contact with the first guests who arrived at the facility from 2005 onwards.
What is also special about Cristina’s farmhouse is the refinement of the furnishings. All the rooms are furnished with period furniture, and although it is not particularly valuable, it conveys all the history that accompanies beds, bedside tables, cots, trunks and wardrobes. The entire Salvadori family has contributed to the search for the furniture, which has been found at antique markets even outside the province.
The entire business development process was assisted by CIA, which provided support both in starting and maintaining the business.
