Buffalo Mozzarella Farms Near Paestum

Tenuta Vannulo

Via Galileo Galilei 101, Contrada Vannulo, Capaccio Paestum. An organic farm where the Palmieri family makes mozzarella entirely by hand from its own buffaloes' milk. The estate is open every day from 7am to 7:30pm, with the yogurt shop, dairy shop, tasting room, bakery, leather workshop, museum and buffalo sheds all in one farm hamlet.

The guided tour lasts 50 minutes, in Italian, English, French or German, and takes in the mozzarella being made, the buffalo herd, the Museum of Peasant Life and the leather workshop. Tours run between 9am and noon, because the mozzarella is only made in the morning. Book well ahead on +39 0828 727894 (extension 1) or [email protected].

• Dairy shop: daily 8:00 to 17:00. Mozzarella sells out, so the farm recommends reserving it on +39 0828 727894.
• Yogurteria, for buffalo milk yogurt, puddings and gelato: daily 7:00 to 19:30.
• Degustazione, the farm's restaurant with dishes from its own dairy and organic garden: daily 12:00 to 16:00, booking on the same number.
• Museum of Peasant Life, about a thousand tools and household objects from the early 19th century on, and the leather shop: Monday to Saturday 8:00 to 18:00, Sunday 8:00 to 14:00.

Vannulo is closed on 25 December, 1 January and Easter Sunday, and closes at 1pm on 24 and 31 December.

Barlotti

Via Torre di Paestum 1, close to the ancient walls. Mozzarella made only from raw buffalo milk and stretched by hand. Guided tours show the herd, the milking room and the dairy, followed by lunch in the farm's degusteria, which also serves buffalo ricotta, cheeses, meat, garden vegetables, cakes, gelato and yogurt. Book through the form on the farm's website or call +39 0828 811146.

Rivabianca

SS18 at km 93, Paestum. A cooperative dairy since 1993 and an accredited educational farm. The Consortium's directory lists a two-hour tour of the farm and dairy for €8, between 9:30am and 1pm, in English or German, with a tasting and optional lunch. Visitors follow the calves, the milking and the mozzarella being made, and taste it warm. Phone 0828 724030.

Taverna Penta, Pontecagnano

Via Conforti 1, Pontecagnano Faiano, on the way from Salerno. The Morese family has kept buffaloes here since 1694 and now has about 600. The farm's old posting station holds a dairy shop and a yogurteria serving breakfast, light lunches and aperitivo. Two-hour guided tours in English, Italian or Swedish; phone 089 3832268.

Getting There

Paestum is about 40 kilometres south of Salerno. The farms are spread across the plain around the archaeological park, so a car is the easiest way to combine a farm visit with the temples. Go in the morning to see mozzarella being made, and buy it the same day: it is best eaten fresh.

More in Campania

North of Naples, buffalo farms on the Caserta plain offer mozzarella-making sessions and calf feeding.