Agriturismo Le Farnie

Your first stop when you venture away from Agriturismo Le Farnie should definitely be Altomonte. The medieval village may be small, but there’s a lot packed in: visit the Gothic-Romanesque cathedral, the stunning Dominican cloisters, the civic museum (with works of art from Simone Martini, Bernardo Daddi and Paolo di Ciacio), Castle Altomonte, the Norman Tower and an amphitheatre that's a central focus of tons of festivals throughout the year. Want to get back to nature? You’re well-placed here: Le Farnie is less than 40 minutes’ drive from Pollino National Park, where you can see the prehistoric cave paintings in Grotta del Romito, bask in the hot springs at Grotta delle Ninfe, visit the scenic Ponte del Diavolo and make your way to the Santuario di Santa Maria delle Armi, with fab views over the Sibari plain. For beachside getaways, you’re roughly halfway between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian coasts (though the Ionian pips it for convenience) so travel the 40 minutes to Marina di Sibari, or the hour and 10 minutes to Sangineto Lido, for ocean swims and strolls along the sand. History buffs might want to spend a little more time on the Ionian coast to pay visits to the National Archeological Museum of Sibaritide and the luxe Castello Ducale, before making their way back to home base for the Villa Romana, 15 minutes from Le Farnie.