Merenda nell'Oliveta a San Marcello

A snack among the olive trees in the heart of Vallesina

Merenda nell'Oliveta is the national initiative promoted by the National Association of Oil Cities that invites you to rediscover the landscape of olive groves and the culture of extra virgin olive oil. In San Marcello, a small municipality in the province of Ancona overlooking the gentle hills of the Vallesina, the event translates into a series of days spread throughout the olive rows, where peasant tradition meets conviviality and the pleasure of good food.

Olive oil, identity of the Marche territory

San Marcello joined the national network of Oil Cities in 2025, choosing to promote its producers and its olive landscape. The Marche region boasts a long tradition linked to extra virgin olive oil, the result of native cultivars and know-how passed down from generation to generation. Merenda nell'Oliveta was created precisely to tell this link between community, landscape, and product, bringing residents and visitors directly to the place where olive oil comes to life: the olive grove.

What to expect

The days offer immersive experiences designed for all ages:

• Tastings of extra virgin olive oil and typical local products;
• The traditional bruschetta, a symbol of the peasant snack;
• Workshops and educational sessions on olive growing culture;
• Music and outdoor entertainment;
• Walks among the olive trees and activities dedicated to discovering the rural landscape.

The theme of the 2026 edition

The 2026 edition, the sixth at the national level, has as its theme "L'Olio della Repubblica" (The Oil of the Republic), on the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of the Italian Republic: a tribute to olive oil as a symbol of identity, community, and shared roots. The initiative, sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and ENIT, with the collaboration of UNPLI and LILT, involves over eighty Italian municipalities from late April to late June.

San Marcello, a village in the Ancona hinterland

Nestled in the countryside a few kilometres from Jesi, San Marcello is a quiet village that preserves the authentic rhythm of rural life in the Marche. Merenda nell'Oliveta is an ideal opportunity to discover this corner of the province of Ancona, combining food and wine, nature, and socialising in a landscape of great beauty.