For families who want to immerse themselves in rural life in South Tyrol and its fascinating aspects, there’s only one answer: Gallo Rosso. You can choose from over 1,600 authentic farm stays, each with its own unique features (it’s very convenient to search for them by applying filters HERE or by browsing the 2023 catalog featuring all the farm stays in South Tyrol). The common thread remains the same: the authenticity of these family-run establishments, where hospitality reigns supreme.
A vacation at a farm in South Tyrol, thanks to the farmers’ genuine hospitality, is a unique experience—even more so in the spring, when the animals’ young are born. It’s especially ideal for families with children, who will be able to pet, cuddle, and care for the young animals.
Here are the key highlights of a farm stay:
- Small establishments have limited the number of guests
- Each agritourism property offers a maximum of five apartments or eight rooms
- Privacy and outdoor spaces are guaranteed
- Many farmsteads have a tradition of delivering a breakfast basket to your door in the morning at the agreed-upon time. This way , both adults and children can enjoy breakfast in their pajamas and sample homemade jams and bread, eggs, milk, and cheese.
- The accommodations are cleaned and disinfected with particular care
- Compliance with all required hygiene measures is guaranteed .
We’ve tried several Gallo Rosso locations; in this article, you’ll find the ones that have really won our hearts!
What can you do at the farmsteads?
There are a lot of things that change depending on the season:
- help out with the farm work (we collected eggs and milked the cows!)
- Cooking with the farmer’s wife—from fritters to bread to yogurt
- horseback riding, when there are horses
- tasting of wines produced on the premises
- Outings with your host family, who will tell you lots of interesting facts about the area and the animals
- Discover Alpine wellness, which has a long tradition in South Tyrolean farming culture. Farmers combine their centuries-old, traditional knowledge with the latest discoveries in health and beauty—from wool baths to compresses made with medicinal herbs
The Gallo Rosso farmsteads can meet any need or requirement. In fact, there are historic farmsteads, ones for horseback riding, biking, or hiking enthusiasts, wellness farmsteads for those who don’t want to miss out on a spa experience, wine-producing and organic farmsteads, those specializing in family-friendly accommodations with dedicated services, and high-altitude farmsteads.
Each farm combines several features; for example, a farm that specializes in family stays might also have a spa and horses with a riding stable.
Flowers from the farmsteads.
The classification of farmsteads ranges from 1 to 5; the higher the number of flowers, the more criteria the property meets. A 5-flower Gallo Rosso farmstead introduces its guests to the farming way of life through tours of the farm, the vineyard, the wine cellar, and the barn, workshops on making farm products—such as butter—or explanations of a farmer’s typical workday or the importance of the cycle of the seasons for the farm.
Country Taverns.
In addition to farmsteads offering lodging, there are the Gallo Rosso farm taverns: 42 establishments, divided into Buschenschank (which produce their own wine) and Hofschank (which serve at least one meat dish made from their own produce). Dishes prepared exclusively in-house and based on seasonal ingredients delight the palate with traditional South Tyrolean recipes: canederli, cured meat, lamb stew, smoked meats, krapfen, kaiserschmarren, and strudel. We stayed at the Unteraichnerhof in Barbiano. A fantastic place! Discover them all HERE.
Quality products.
At 66 Gallo Rosso farms, authentic gourmet products are also offered, made with at least 75% of the raw ingredients sourced from the farm itself (the remaining 25% comes from another local farm). These products must pass a “blind tasting” conducted by a specialized committee. Vinegars, fruit juices, vegetables preserved in oil or vinegar, cheeses and dairy products, and 11 other product categories are available for purchase not only at the farm’s own shop but also at various markets and grocery stores throughout South Tyrol.
Creativity on the Farm.
Finally, 8 Gallo Rosso farmsteads offer authentic, handmade artisanal products (farm crafts). Beautiful woodcarvings, woven and turned items, decorated goose eggs, hats and slippers made from felted sheep’s wool, and more are available in the farm shops.
More information:
A catalog has been created for each of Gallo Rosso’s four pillars. It is available online—you can download the PDF—or in print; you can have it delivered to your home for free. You can find both versions HERE.
Tel. 0471 999308
Website: www.gallorosso.it
Cover photo credit: © Gallo Rosso – Frieder Blickle