Landolfo d'Olio
The Pontelandolfo award dedicated to extra virgin olive oil from the Ortice cultivar
About Landolfo d'Olio
An award for the 'liquid gold' of Sannio
Landolfo d'Olio is the competition through which the Municipality of Pontelandolfo, in the province of Benevento, celebrates the product that best defines its territory: extra virgin olive oil. Established in 2024, the event has quickly become one of the most anticipated agri-food promotion moments in the Alto Tammaro area, as it does more than just reward an oil—it brings producers, institutions, trade associations, and local schools together at the same table.
The name draws from the village's history: Pontelandolfo derives from Pontem Landulphi, the bridge of Prince Landolfo, the Lombard figure who, according to tradition, authorized the Benedictine monks to build the first structures within the castle walls. It is a play on words between the town's name and the oil, linking the recognition to local identity.
The Ortice, the cultivar that tells the story of Alto Tammaro
The absolute star is the Ortice cultivar, grown primarily in the territories of Pontelandolfo, Casalduni, and San Lupo, in the hilly belt rising toward the Matese mountains. It is a variety with ancient roots that performs well even at high altitudes, up to 700-800 meters, producing large, ellipsoidal drupes that transition from mottled to wine-red upon harvest.
- Oil yield is particularly interesting, ranging around 18-20%.
- Olives are also appreciated brined or sun-dried, according to traditional domestic use.
- Recognized as a P.A.T. (Traditional Italian Agri-Food Product).
- Oils are rich in polyphenols, the element organizers highlight when discussing the link between the Mediterranean diet, health, and longevity.
The municipal territory also falls within the Olio Campania PGI area, and Pontelandolfo is a member of the National Città dell'Olio (Cities of Oil) Association: two elements that explain why a small hillside town has chosen oil as its calling card.
How the competition works
Agricultural firms and small producers submit their samples, which are then evaluated by a qualified jury of tasters. The number of oils in the competition has grown edition after edition, and the catchment area has expanded from just the olive groves of Pontelandolfo to several municipalities in the Sannio region. There is not just one winner: the formula includes multiple awards, from the main Landolfo d'Olio prize to the Friends Award reserved for oils intended for personal consumption, and the prize awarded by the popular jury, which directly involves the public present.
Schools at the center
One of the most original features of the event is the role assigned to schools. The event takes place in the S@mnium school building on Viale Europa, home to the town's Comprehensive Institute, and includes workshops and guided tastings for primary and middle school students. The children learn to recognize the qualities and defects of an oil, how to read a label, and how to understand the economic and landscape value of the olive groves they see from their windows every day. In the 2026 edition, students were also gifted bottles of the award-winning oil.
Who organizes it
The award is promoted by the Municipality of Pontelandolfo with Coldiretti Benevento and APROL Campania, the regional olive producers' association, in collaboration with the Sannio Smart Land association. The event is regularly attended by the municipal administration, provincial and national leaders of Coldiretti, and representatives of the Campania Region involved in projects for inland areas.
When to go and what to expect
Landolfo d'Olio is held in the spring, between the end of May in the early editions and the beginning of May in 2026, when the oil from the previous harvest is ready for evaluation. Visitors to Pontelandolfo will find a town-scale event, without crowds or stages: tasting counters, producers ready to talk about their vintage, Sannio cuisine dishes, and, in some editions, music from local folk groups. It is the perfect opportunity to combine a visit to the village—perched at 510 meters at the foot of the Matese mountains, with its tower and the memory of the events of August 1861—with a day dedicated to taste in one of the most authentic olive-growing areas of Campania.
Landolfo d'Olio — edition 2026
The third edition
Landolfo d'Olio 2026, the third edition of the award, took place on May 8 and 9, 2026, in the spaces of the S@mnium school building on Viale Europa, in Pontelandolfo, in the province of Benevento. The initiative, promoted by the Municipality with Coldiretti Benevento, APROL Campania, and the Sannio Smart Land association, brought together producers, institutions, associations, and schools around the Ortice cultivar, defined by the organizers as a heritage to be protected for its richness in polyphenols and its link to the Mediterranean diet.
24 oils participated in the competition, arriving from Pontelandolfo and other Sannio municipalities: Morcone, San Lupo, Guardia Sanframondi, Santa Croce del Sannio, and Campolattaro. The event was attended by Mayor Ovidio Valerio Testa, Deputy Mayor Corrado Guerrera, and Regional Councilor Pellegrino Mastella, promoter of the 'Officina delle Aree Interne' project.
The educational component was highly appreciated: primary and middle school students followed activities dedicated to the culture of oil and the promotion of the territory, later receiving bottles of the winning oil as a gift.
Programme Landolfo d'Olio 2026
The two days — Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, 2026
The program took place entirely in the S@mnium school building on Viale Europa and was divided into two blocks.
Activities with schools
- Workshops on the culture of extra virgin olive oil for primary and middle school students of the S@mnium Comprehensive Institute.
- Educational paths on territory promotion and the value of the Ortice cultivar.
- Delivery to students of bottles of the award-winning oil from the Azienda Agricola Mancini Domenico.
The competition and awards ceremony
- Presentation of the 24 oils in competition from Pontelandolfo, Morcone, San Lupo, Guardia Sanframondi, Santa Croce del Sannio, and Campolattaro.
- Evaluation by the qualified jury and vote by the popular jury.
- Speeches by institutions and trade organizations: Municipality of Pontelandolfo, Coldiretti Benevento, APROL Campania, Sannio Smart Land.
- Landolfo d'Olio Award to Azienda Agricola Mancini Domenico (olives milled by the FAM s.a.s. mill in Venticano), presented by Gennarino Masiello, provincial president and national vice-president of Coldiretti.
- Friends Award, reserved for oils intended for personal consumption, to Azienda Agricola Longo Maria Michelina (olives milled at Tenuta Romano in Ponte), presented by entrepreneur Alessandro Maffei.
- Popular Jury Award to Azienda Agricola Varrone Filomena (olives milled at Tenuta Romano in Ponte), presented by Antonio Di Maria, president of the Sannio Smart Land association.
Highlights Landolfo d'Olio 2026
- Third edition of the award, May 8-9, 2026, at the S@mnium school building.
- 24 extra virgin oils in competition from six Sannio municipalities.
- Focus on the Ortice cultivar, typical of Alto Tammaro and rich in polyphenols.
- Landolfo d'Olio Award to Azienda Agricola Mancini Domenico.
- Friends Award to Azienda Agricola Longo Maria Michelina.
- Popular Jury Award to Azienda Agricola Varrone Filomena.
- Oil workshops for primary and middle school students.
- Organization shared between the Municipality, Coldiretti Benevento, APROL Campania, and Sannio Smart Land.
Prices Landolfo d'Olio 2026
Practical information — Landolfo d'Olio
How to get there
Pontelandolfo is located in the Alto Tammaro area, about 35 km from Benevento. By car, you can arrive via the SS87 Sannitica or the SS212 Val Fortore road; from Naples, take the SS372 Telesina road until the exit for Morcone. The nearest train station is in Benevento, from which the town can be reached by suburban bus lines. The event takes place in the S@mnium school building on Viale Europa, just outside the historic center, where parking is available.
Admission
The award is a public event promoted by the Municipality: local sources do not report entrance fees for the awards ceremony. Morning workshops are reserved for students of the Comprehensive Institute. For any tasting sessions, it is advisable to confirm with the organizers.
Contacts
- Municipality of Pontelandolfo, Via Municipio 48 — 82027 Pontelandolfo (BN)
- Phone: +39 0824 851844
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Website: www.comune.pontelandolfo.bn.it
Tips
Take advantage of your visit to buy Ortice cultivar oil directly from the local mills and farms: it is a locally distributed product, difficult to find outside the Sannio region. Nearby, Morcone, Campolattaro with its lake, Guardia Sanframondi, and Cerreto Sannita are worth a stop.
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Where does it take place — Landolfo d'Olio
Edificio scolastico S@mnium
Viale Europa, 82027 Pontelandolfo