Etruscan Trails: Autumn Colors and Mill Flavors (Open Mills)

Etruscan Trails in Blera

In the town of Blera, in the province of Viterbo, autumn brings one of the most evocative experiences in the Lazio Tuscia region: Etruscan Trails: Autumn Colors and Mill Flavors. The event is part of the Frantoi Aperti initiative, promoted by the Colli Etruschi Cooperative—an olive oil producer with over fifty years of history—in collaboration with the Antico Presente association. Each edition combines nature and archaeological hiking with tastings of freshly pressed olive oil, in a territory where the olive tree has been a defining crop for millennia.

Between Rock-Cut Necropolises and the Marturanum Gorges

The heart of the excursions is the Marturanum Regional Park, straddling Blera and Barbarano Romano, one of the most fascinating corners of southern Etruria. Here, trails lead to the Etruscan Necropolis of San Giuliano, with its hundreds of monumental tombs carved into the tuff rock, and cross the deep gorges shaped by watercourses. The woods, painted in autumn colors and covered in leaves, frame a landscape where nature, history, and archaeology have intertwined for over three thousand years.

The Village of Blera and Olive Tradition

The days often include a visit to the medieval village of Blera, with its ancient washhouse, frescoed churches, and defensive moats that tell the story of its past. After the walk, participants reach the Colli Etruschi Cooperative mill, where a tasting of new olive oil—awarded in numerous national competitions—is held on the panoramic terrace overlooking the gorge. The table offers the genuine flavors of rural tradition: bruschetta with new oil, pasta and chickpeas, seasonal vegetables, typical dry pastries, water, and local wine.

An Experience for Everyone

The itineraries, ranging from easy to moderate difficulty, cover a maximum of five kilometers with gentle elevation changes, suitable even for those hiking in these areas for the first time. Accompanied by AIGAE environmental hiking guides and licensed tour guides, visitors discover an authentic side of the most intimate Lazio, far from mass tourism circuits. Today, the Etruscan Trails represent a highly anticipated event for trekking, archaeology, and food and wine enthusiasts who travel to Blera every autumn to experience the deep bond between the Tuscia landscape and the 'green gold' of its hills.