The Story of Saffron Growers and Farm Stay Holidays In Italy

Our English phrase farm-stay holidays translates into Italian tourist lingo as Agrotourism. You will recognise the sign and symbol as you drive around Umbria. The 'heart of Italy' is Umbria, a landlocked and hilly green countryside where farmers are opening their homes and reviving business by sharing their knowledge of how to grow plants. I met a family who grow saffron.

I've always wondered why saffron was so expensive and now I know why. It comes from the pretty little purple and blue crocus which grows in the meadows on the hillsides of Umbria. The little orange stamens in the middle of the flower have to be pulled out by hand.

First our host showed us how they grow the plants.

I visited the interior of one specific farmhouse. The wife, Rita, who owns it, made us tea and she and her husband, told us all about the saffron process. They sold books and had leaflets on saffron. They belong to a saffron growers' association.

They beamed with pleasure at our visit and invited us to handle the delicate flowers and encouraged us to pull out the stamens. We really felt we were part of the family.

Local History
The proverb 'all roads lead to Rome' shortens and summarises a medieval saying and it's also generally true all rivers flow down to the sea. The famous river Tiber flows downhill to Rome from the Umbrian mountains. The Etruscans built towers BC and before Romans. Little villages and farms are dotted over the Umbrian hillsides with wonderful views of the snow-capped mountains and the hilltop fortress towns such as Perugia. You feel like you are watching a revolving three hundred and sixty degree panorama of a medieval Giotto painting with farmhouse or church and a little hilltop village in the background.
See the regional website:
www.umbriatourism.it

Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright 2016.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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