Spannocchia

Spannocchia is a multi-faceted agricultural estate set in the gorgeous Tuscan hills and Alto Mersa Nature Reserve in Italy, 20 kilometers southwest of Siena. Through an Italian non-profit (the Associazione), an Italian agritourism and farm business (the Tenuta), and a supporting US-based non-profit (Friends of Spannocchia), Spannocchia preserves an ancient form of life in Tuscany that is based on community, respect for tradition, and a responsible use of resources. Our primary mission is for the estate to serve as an international model and education center for sustainable practices. For more than twenty years, our blended community of Americans and Italians has hosted interns from around the world to learn about regenerative agriculture, sustainable food systems, and the cultural traditions of Tuscany. In more recent years, we've added culinary and butcher apprenticeships to our farm-based educational offerings. Our interns and apprentices have become ambassadors of conservation and Italian foodways, and continue to employ the practices they learn at Spannocchia in their communities, professions, and daily lives. For more than fifty years, Spannocchia has also worked with educational institutions, artistic programs, and environmental groups to offer customized enrichment programs focused on sustainability, art, food, wine, history, and culture to visitors of all ages, from all over the globe. At Spannocchia, we believe sharing our knowledge is just as important as preserving and protecting our natural environment.