since 16th century
A very long term project
The Val d’Orcia has always been an agricultural landscape, shaped by centuries of rural life and guided by the rhythm of the seasons. For generations, farming here was based on subsistence: enough to sustain farming families and country estates, but never in excess.
After the Second World War, the introduction of modern agricultural techniques and mechanization profoundly changed the countryside, leading to a gradual depopulation of rural areas. It was during this period of transformation that the story of Il Rigo began.
In the 1970s, Vittorio Cipolla, heir to a long-established landowning family and a graduate in Agricultural Sciences, chose to become a direct farmer and founded the Il Rigo agricultural estate. In the 1990s, together with Lorenza, also an agronomist, he opened the first guest rooms in the farmhouse, marking the beginning of Il Rigo’s hospitality. In those years, the farm obtained organic certification, and agritourism became essential in sustaining agricultural activity during a time of declining cereal prices.
In 2012, Luisa Cipolla and her husband Matthias Ruge took over the estate, ushering in a new chapter. Coming from different educational backgrounds, they committed themselves to managing Il Rigo with respect for the land, for the people who worked here before them, and for those who will care for it in the future.
Today, Il Rigo extends over approximately 250 hectares, cultivated mainly with cereals and legumes in rotation. Around the farmhouse are the vegetable garden, orchard, chicken coop, and cut-flower garden, while a small olive grove nearby produces oil for the family and part of the kitchen’s needs. Agriculture and hospitality continue to shape daily life at Il Rigo, offering guests an authentic and responsible experience deeply connected to the landscape of the Val d’Orcia.
