Festa della Bandiera di Oliosi
The hamlet of Oliosi celebrates the historic flag of 1866 between Risorgimento memory and village festival
About Festa della Bandiera
The legend of the Flag of Oliosi
The Festa della Bandiera takes place in the hamlet of Oliosi, in the municipality of Castelnuovo del Garda, in the province of Verona. It celebrates one of the most fascinating episodes of the Venetian Risorgimento: on June 24, 1866, during the Battle of Custoza in the Third War of Independence, Captain Baroncelli and the soldiers of the 44th Infantry Regiment resisted the Austrian offensive, barricaded in the farmhouse La Castellana, saving the tricolour which became a symbol of Italian valour.
Memory and community
Preserved for generations by the inhabitants of Oliosi, the memory of that gesture is the heart of the festival, organised by the Circolo La Bandiera di Oliosi with the support of the Municipality. The event combines the solemn dimension of historical commemoration – processions, laying of laurel wreaths at Casa Benati, flag-raising at the Monument to the Fallen, and a mass – with the convivial atmosphere of a village festival, featuring traditional dinners, concerts, and food stalls.
The 160th anniversary in 2026
2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the Flag of Oliosi: for the occasion, the programme extends throughout the month of June, with a special philatelic cancellation by Poste Italiane, historical conferences, an immersive audio experience on the battlefields of 1866, and a concert by the Bersaglieri Band, in addition to the traditional Festa della Bandiera at the end of the month.
Festa della Bandiera — edition 2026
The 2026 edition coincides with the 160th anniversary of the Flag of Oliosi (June 24, 1866) and the 49th Festa della Bandiera. The programme runs throughout the period from June 19 to 29, 2026, alternating solemn moments of Risorgimento remembrance with popular festival evenings in the hamlet of Oliosi.
Programme Festa della Bandiera 2026
Friday, June 19 — Inaugural Evening
- 7:30 PM — Awarding of diplomas from the Sensofilm Academy
- 8:45 PM — Inaugural concert by the Civic Band in the monument park
Saturday, June 20 — Historical Memory Day
- Special philatelic cancellation by Poste Italiane
- Procession through the streets of Oliosi and mass at the Parco dei Caduti
- Exhibition with a photographic reproduction of the Flag and a copy of the original
- Granting of honorary citizenship to the National Associations of Fanti and Bersaglieri
- Evening — Concert by the Bersaglieri Band of Padua "Achille Formis"
- Traditional dinner in Piazzale Autieri (by reservation)
Sunday, June 21
- "Narrating Castelnuovo – The Flag of Oliosi": immersive 3D audio experience on the battlefields of 1866
Monday, June 22
- Conference by historian Jacopo Veneziani on the artistic and historical significance of the Flag, at the Parco degli Autieri
Wednesday, June 24 — 160th Anniversary Day
- Commemorative ceremony at Monte Criccol with wreath-laying and official speeches
June 26-29 — 49th Festa della Bandiera
- Live music, shows, activities for families, and food stalls
Highlights Festa della Bandiera 2026
Prices Festa della Bandiera 2026
Practical information — Festa della Bandiera
How to get there
Oliosi is a hamlet of Castelnuovo del Garda, on the Veronese side of Lake Garda. By car: A4 motorway exit Peschiera del Garda, then follow signs for Custoza/Oliosi. The hamlet is a few kilometres from the exit.
Admission and reservations
Free admission to ceremonies and evening events. Reservations are required for the traditional dinner at the Circolo La Bandiera.
Contacts
Circolo La Bandiera di Oliosi – tel. +39 333 1170172 – [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Festa della Bandiera
Frazione Oliosi, Parco della Rimembranza e Monte Criccol
Oliosi, 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda