The Ippogrifo farm is surrounded by green hills of Umbria, situated in Caligiana, is family run, and covers about 70 hectares divided into: olive groves, pastures, forests, as well as a vegetable garden and an orchard with different varieties and species of fruit.
The main house, which dates back to about the 1800s, holds several apartments, where visitors can spend a peaceful holiday. The same structure houses a restaurant and a classroom for the educational farm. Two other apartments are housed in a small but charming building, once intended to be the rural annex. Another type of housing that the Ippogrifo offers is farm camping; in fact, the area holds several equipped camper pitches. Guests can also make use of our swimming pool and bowling green.
On the farm, we raise sheep, goats, cows, horses and donkeys, not to mention chickens and rabbits, turkeys and geese.
We also offer other cultural and sport activities, in particular those related to the equestrian world.
Ippogrifo is also an educational farm. Here, it is possible to actively participate in educational programmes for both children and adults, related to agricultural activities and to nature.
Visitors to our equestrian centre, also located within the farm area, can learn to ride a horse, can take walks with horses, or just enjoy a first experience with these beautiful animals.
We also produce extra virgin olive oil, preserves, jams, cheeses, sausages and other cured products, and of course, meat.

Our history

The Farm was created in 2000 when owner Massimo Francone, horse-riding instructor, bought his first hectare of land and the Horse Riding Centre was born in affiliation with the Fitetrec A.N.T.E (National Association for Equestrian Tourism). The initial activity carried out at the Farm included riding lessons for riding licensing, horse-riding walks and one or more day trekking adventures.
Today, thanks to the presence of Carolina and Macchia, two delightful ponies, even little ones can take part in the equestrian world.
Besides the horses, the Farm also houses Martina Franca breed donkeys, beloved by the Farm owner, and Apennine breed ovines, raised for most of the year on the Farm pastures, as well as Italian Pezzata Rossa breed cows and their calves, goats, chickens and ducks.
Starting in 2005, the other hectares of land were purchased for pasture and olive groves. With the help of his wife, Fitetrec - A.N.T.E. technician, the Horse Riding Centre has also become specialised in training horses for TREC and in the organisation of equestrian events at local and national levels.
The first Apennine sheep were purchased in 2005 and were immediately bred with enthusiasm. Lamb are also bred here and are generally sold to private buyers, often as breed animals.
From the beginning, we have tried to focus on the quality of all our production instead of quantity, including with our choice of more hardy breeds of animals, more adaptable to the high hill environment where the farm is located. At Ippogrifo, we have several olive orchards, most of them composed of ancient, native species trees, with which we produce extra virgin olive oil, characterised by the high quality of its raw materials and, therefore, of the final product.
This oil is sold directly to private buyers, mainly at local markets.
Due to the small size of the farm area, the owners have focused on quality production as opposed to quantity.
The Ippogrifo Farm is also an "educational farm". Throughout the year, many schools are welcomed to participate in different events: "The Oil Cycle," "The Ball of Yarn," "Getting Your Bearings," and many more. The entire Farm is managed by owner Massimo Francone and his wife, a graduate in animal production science and technology.
In 2010, Ippogrifo moved to Monte Tezio in Caligiana, where a farm that had been abandoned for several years was purchased. Now, in 2011, after many economic and physical sacrifices and efforts, especially by Massimo (the owner) but also by his entire family, the farm now presents itself in a new light, having restored all that was possible and tried to create a welcoming environment for guests who grant us their trust.
All of this was born from our passion for nature and animals, and perhaps from a little romanticism and a lot of naiveté. We have tried to fulfil a dream that we share, to live immersed in greenery and surrounded by animals.
Unfortunately, not having inherited all this from our ancestors, we have had to take a long, hard look at what was best for us and what we had the financial opportunity to purchase. Part of our dream came true when we moved, part of it we are trying to keep alive and real by hard work, every single day with the hope that, one day, not too far away, we will able to finally look around and say that this is all ours.