The Colle San Giorgio agricultural company was founded at the end of the 1970s by Rino Di Vitantonio, when the market rewarded agricultural entrepreneurs for all their efforts.
Over time we have gained experience, adapted the crops to new ‘requests’, but without losing our priority: Respect for the territory and the Environment.
After years of hard work in the fields, the release of the regional law of 31 May 1994, No. 32 (regarding the opening and management of agritourisms) was seen as a great opportunity: a job that supported the natural spirit of hospitality of our family. Thus, after 3 years of careful evaluations, on May 24, 1997, our family officially began a new path in which to learn, grow and express itself, through the Agriturismo Colle San Giorgio.
The company takes its name from the hill behind it, on the top of which there are the remains of a pre-Roman Italic temple (theme of the book by Doctor Gabriele Iaculli ‘The Italic temple of Colle San Giorgio’ published a few years before the opening of the farmhouse). The company’s mission was immediately to promote the landscape and historical spectacle in which it is located. The intent is to convey love for our territory through the farm. Guests are guided in visiting the most evocative places in our region and our position is ideal for easily and quickly reaching the sea or mountains. In 2006 the patronal farmhouse from the late 19th century was renovated. The guest rooms are located in this charming stone structure. In the cellars, in addition to the centenary oil mill, a small exhibition of ancient tools from the peasant tradition has been set up.
Since 1999, the 30 hectares of land surrounding the company have been cultivated as grandfather once did: using completely organic fertilizers and methods (obviously in an official manner, controlled by the relevant bodies and certified, first IMC, then CCPB). Once collected, all the products pass through the hands of the cook, mother Franca, who prepares traditional Abruzzo specialties (meunière, rings with vegetables and ricotta, ravioli, gnocchi…) and dishes for slightly more “refined” palates such as duck with orange, rabbit with lemon and much more. Preserves, pickles and jams are prepared with the garden products. Fresh eggs from strictly free-range chickens are used for delicious and genuine desserts. In a period in which everything seems good and ‘standard’, guests have the opportunity to rediscover ancient flavours, and above all they can see where the products “come” from, the much sought after ‘km 0’ for us is the maximum distance.
The Colle San Giorgio Company is the favorite “park” for children who can run freely through the meadows, climb trees and hide from everything and everyone. They can discover and experience the countryside, feed the pony Brandon and the donkey Giorgia, pick flowers among the goats and bunnies.
01/18/2017. The earthquake, under two meters of snow.
Until January 2017 we raised Marchigiana cattle in the wild. Due to the exceptional snowfall of those days and together with the earthquake tremors, our stable collapsed. On the morning of January 18, part of the roof collapsed, under 2 meters of snow. Unfortunately, some animals have died. All the others remained in the snow, often going out of the enclosure, with the snow submerging everything, even the ‘boundaries’ of the cows had disappeared. We were able to move the 40 animals only after 5 days, on January 23rd, thanks to a generous neighbor who coincidentally had sold many cows a few months earlier and had space in his stable. He offered to help us. For 2 kilometres, with the help of civil protection, we directed our cows onto the road, literally between two walls of snow. A day we will never forget, an ‘unusual’ transhumance. Since that day, we have received help from the Italian State only for the disposal of the asbestos present on the destroyed roofing. In January 2019. We didn’t know that on January 23, 2017 the Marche breed cows would leave our company forever. Years later, only the clean and tidy ruins of the stable and photos remain of them. Just as we will never forget the closeness, help and kindness of our local administrators and neighbors. Those days stuck at home and without electricity took us back in time, when we were all together in the houses, near the fire, appreciating the little things, the small gestures, feeling good simply by hosting some people for lunch or listening and be with someone.
The only thing that will remain bad forever will not be the tremors or the snow; the sense of emptiness and abandonment on the part of the institutions will remain, with no answers for our destroyed stable. Even today, years later.
However, we must clarify one thing: on that terrible day, January eighteenth two thousand and seventeen, while we were trying to remedy a ‘small’ corporate and family tragedy (fortunately only structural), a few kilometers away (about twenty) towards the mountain, following the enormous weight of the snow and the tremors, a large avalanche swept away the ‘Rigopiano – Gran Sasso Resort’ hotel, taking with it, together with the beautiful structure, the lives of 29 people and countless families.