Agriturismo I Tre Tigli

A farm of donkeys and horses

I Tre Tigli is the agriturismo of the Mariucci farm, which has bred donkeys since 2004 and sells their milk in Italy and abroad. It stands in the Monte Cerasa area, beside kilometre 36 of the Via Flaminia, in the municipality of Rignano Flaminio, in the countryside between Rome and the Treja valley: Calcata is a few kilometres away. As well as donkeys, they breed Tolfetano horses, the hardy breed from the Tolfa hills that the butteri, the cowboys of the Lazio Maremma, used to ride, and which live here in semi-freedom.

Over the years the farm opened a restaurant, which has grown into two large rooms with wooden ceilings and big windows and, in summer, a covered outdoor area surrounded by greenery.

What you eat

The kitchen cooks to order with fresh, local, seasonal produce. At lunchtime the menu runs from pasta made in-house as a first course to meat main courses, including tagliatas; in the evening there is also pinsa, the long-fermented Roman dough, as an alternative to pizza. There is a menu and there are fixed menus for parties, communions and celebrations. If you stay the night, they offer half board or full board, but no breakfast: you can have it outside, if you ask.

When it opens and how to book

The restaurant's page says: Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday lunchtime only. The home page gives something broader, dinners every day except Sunday and lunches on Saturday and Sunday; since the two do not match and no times are given, call or message on WhatsApp before you go, especially at weekends. Book on +39 333 703 9179 or +39 320 606 5515.

After lunch

On its riding ground the farm runs horse rides and, in some seasons, walks and treks with pack donkeys; you book through its social media or by phone. With children, seeing the horses and donkeys up close is part of the meal.