The olive tree is the plant that outlines our hills and describes the Umbrian landscape in a unique and distinguishable way.

Olive trees have created the image of “Umbria green heart of Italy“: since the late 19th century it has fascinated travelers from all over Europe on their Grand Tours, who recognized our region precisely because of its characteristic olive groves.

A condiment, an element for body care, fuel for lanterns and as an element in liturgies with a strong symbolic and religious value: oil is a cultural product capable of narrating family rituals and traditions that in Umbria we have been handing down for centuries.

The Feast of Open Mills

In late October and early November in Umbria we harvest olives, a magical time that still unites families, from the youngest to the oldest, all armed with tarps and rakes for hand picking.

Frantoi Aperti is Italy’s largest oil festival organized by the Strada dell’Olio DOP Umbria. During five weekends in late October and throughout November, the mills will be “open,” meaning they can be visited while they are in operation and olives are delivered to them for pressing. Each participating miller will be on hand to explain the history and relevance of the process of extracting Umbrian gold and to let visitors taste a “bruschetta” (bread and oil) of the freshly pressed oil.

The event includes, in addition to the “obligatory” tasting of bruschetta, musical events in olive mills, guided tours of villages surrounded by olive groves and walks and e-bike rides, and visits to centuries-old olive trees in Umbria.

This is the perfect event to rediscover and take part in a magical ritual moment that you have surely heard from grandparents’ and grandmothers’ stories!