In the locality of Drego, among the valleys of the Ligurian Alps, there is a place immersed in silence, where the gaze, having passed the mountains, reaches the sea. It is here that Matteo and Silvia, with their children Luca and Anna (and grandpa Sergio), have decided to live; and it is here that they welcome their guests, travelers from all over the world.
The family has renovated some ancient stone huts, obtaining their home in which they try to live in perfect harmony with nature and an accommodation facility dedicated to those who want to rediscover contact with the mountain and the surrounding environment. Due to the wild environment around it and the lack of services within walking distance, the hospitality reminds the one that’s typical of alpine refuges. Here, however, the rooms are independent, each with a private bathroom. But above all, what makes this place unique and different is the possibility of having fascinating experiences, personalized for all tastes and needs. Excursions, donkey trekking, photographic adventures, milking are just some examples of the activities you can do during your stay.
Among the panoramas of Valle Argentina
Drego is an ancient mountain pasture at 1100 meters above sea level, immersed in the green pastures and deciduous woods of Valle Argentina. Crossed by the river of the same name which originates on Mount Saccarello, the highest peak in Liguria, the valley is part of the regional natural park of the Ligurian Alps, and offers a great variety of landscapes and paths, clear waters where you can swim and characteristic villages.
Matteo, an environmental hiking guide, will accompany you along the paths of the area, to discover its most characteristic corners and the very rich flora and fauna typical of the Maritime Alps. The place is also ideal for dedicating yourself to mountain sports and outdoor adventures: with MTB, downhill and cross-country routes, cliffs for climbing, and snow-covered paths for snowshoeing in winter, the possibility are endless.
The refuge rooms of La Fontana dell’Olmo
La Fontana dell’Olmo has three independent bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, a kitchen, and a common room for breakfast and dinner. Off-grid, the accommodation uses only renewable energy, produced on-site thanks to the sun and photovoltaic panels. Lighting is guaranteed, you can then charge your phone and use a small low-consumption hairdryer. It is not possible to use other types of appliances brought from home. The water comes from a small spring a few steps from the huts: guests must use it sparingly and without waste, in order not to deplete the reserve available in the accumulation tanks.
At La Fontana dell’Olmo everything is self-produced
Even before being an agritourism, La Fontana dell’Olmo is a farm. Matteo and Silvia in fact try as much as possible to self-produce what they need. They cultivate, without using pesticides and chemical products, Taggiasca olives, vegetables, greens, and fruit of all kinds. They breed Brigasche sheep and Cabannine cows (both local breeds in danger of extinction), chamois goats from the Alps and farmyard animals such as rabbits, geese, and hens. Then they produce cheeses and other dairy products, honey, oil, wine, ancient wheat flour, jams, and marmalades.
The entire production is also used for the restaurant of the small farmhouse. Located in the village of Agaggio Inferiore, it offers a typical cuisine of the Ligurian Alps. So you’ll taste the peasant recipes of the past. Everything, from appetizers to desserts, is rigorously fresh and prepared daily, using seasonal products.
The experiences to live during your stay
Matteo and Silvia don’t just want to host you for a common stay. They want to share with you country life, the wonders of the area, the experience of a truly authentic lifestyle, and the values of sustainability they follow in everyday life. To do this, they offer you a large number of experiences and activities to enjoy during your stay. For example, you will be able to participate in the milking of sheep, goats, and cows, collect wild herbs that you will use later during cooking classes, or even try the experience of trekking with donkeys. In the company of Limone and Garibaldi, the two nice donkeys of the farm, you will go on wonderful trekking to the most panoramic points of the area. The farm is also part of the WWOOF network and is an educational farm and social farm.
In short, La Fontana dell’Olmo is the perfect place for a rural holiday in direct contact with nature, to discover the traditions, flavors, and scents of the Ligurian Alps.
Agriturismo camere-rifugio a 1.100m – Green Farm house in Molini di Triora, IM, Liguria, IT 
