Flag Festival of Oliosi
The hamlet of Oliosi celebrates the historic 1866 Flag amidst Risorgimento memories and village festivities
About Flag Festival
The Legend of the Oliosi Flag
The Flag Festival 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 Italian 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 tricolor which became a symbol of Italian valor.
Memory and Community
Preserved for generations by the inhabitants of Oliosi, the memory of that gesture is the heart of the festival, organized by the Circolo La Bandiera di Oliosi with the support of the Municipality. The event combines the solemn dimension of historical commemoration – parades, 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 stands.
The 160th Anniversary in 2026
2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the Oliosi Flag: for this occasion, the program extends throughout the month of June, with a special philatelic cancellation by Poste Italiane, historical conferences, an immersive audio experience at the sites of the 1866 battle, and a concert by the Bersaglieri Band, in addition to the traditional Flag Festival at the end of the month.
Flag Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 edition coincides with the 160th anniversary of the Oliosi Flag (June 24, 1866) and the 49th Flag Festival. The program runs throughout the period from June 19 to 29, 2026, alternating solemn moments of Risorgimento remembrance with evenings of popular festivities in the hamlet of Oliosi.
Programme Flag Festival 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
- Parade 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
- Conferment of honorary citizenship to the National Associations of Fanti and Bersaglieri
- Evening — Concert by the Padua Bersaglieri Band "Achille Formis"
- Traditional dinner in Piazzale Autieri (by reservation)
Sunday, June 21
- "Narrating Castelnuovo – The Oliosi Flag": immersive 3D audio experience at the sites of the 1866 battle
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 Flag Festival
- Live music, shows, activities for families, and food stands
Highlights Flag Festival 2026
Prices Flag Festival 2026
Practical information — Flag Festival
How to get there
Oliosi is a hamlet of Castelnuovo del Garda, on the Veronese side of Lake Garda. By car: A4 exit Peschiera del Garda, then direction Custoza/Oliosi. The hamlet is a few kilometers from the toll booth.
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 — Flag Festival
Frazione Oliosi, Parco della Rimembranza e Monte Criccol
Oliosi, 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda