Merenda nell'Oliveta

A snack among the olive trees in the heart of Val Graziosa

Merenda nell'Oliveta is the national initiative promoted by the National Association of Olive Oil Cities (Associazione Nazionale Città dell'Olio) which, during spring weekends, transforms Italian olive groves into places of encounter, taste, and culture. In Calci, a small town in the province of Pisa nestled in the charming Val Graziosa, the event comes to life at Fattoria San Vito, an organic farm just a few steps from the monumental Certosa di Calci.

The concept is simple yet powerful: spend a day "sitting in the shade of the olive trees," rediscovering the bond between the Tuscan olive landscape, food, and the community. It is not just a tasting, but a slow experience that weaves together nature, art, and authentic flavors.

Art, nature, and flavors at Fattoria San Vito

The day in Calci follows a proven formula that combines different forms of expression. The morning is dedicated to an en plein air art workshop among the vines and olive trees, while the highlight arrives in the early afternoon: the actual merenda (snack) in the olive grove, featuring bruschetta, pappa al pomodoro, pinzimonio, and hummus, paired with the farm's organic extra virgin olive oil and natural wines. In the late afternoon, the vernissage and meeting with the artist conclude the day in an atmosphere of exchange and conviviality.

Fattoria San Vito is a small family-run estate that farms without pesticides or herbicides, producing organic extra virgin olive oil and IGT Toscana natural wines: the ideal setting to showcase high-quality olive growing that respects the land.

The Oil of the Republic: the 2026 theme

The 2026 edition, the sixth at the national level, features the theme «The Oil of the Republic»: a concept that goes beyond gastronomy, turning the snack into a moment of reflection on community values, memory, and local identity. The initiative involves dozens of municipalities throughout Italy under the patronage of national bodies, and in Calci, it finds one of its most evocative settings thanks to the backdrop of Val Graziosa.

Why attend

• Experience the olive landscape of Tuscany in an authentic and relaxed way.
• Taste organic extra virgin olive oil and natural wines directly at the farm.
• Combine art, nature, and taste in a single day.
• Discover Calci and its monumental Certosa, one of the most beloved destinations in the Pisa area.

An event designed for those seeking slow, high-quality tourism capable of telling the story of olive oil culture and the rural soul of the province of Pisa.