Merenda nell'Oliveta

A picnic among the olive trees of the Maremma

Merenda nell'Oliveta is a national initiative promoted by the National Association of Olive Oil Cities (Associazione Nazionale Città dell'Olio) that transforms Italian olive groves into places of gathering, taste, and culture during the spring. In Civitella Paganico, a municipality in the province of Grosseto nestled in the hills of the Tuscan Maremma, the event takes place between the Frantoio sociale delle Colline Ardenghesche and the municipal olive grove in the village of Civitella Marittima.

The concept is simple and authentic: spend a day 'sitting in the shade of the olive trees,' rediscovering the bond between the olive landscape, extra virgin olive oil, and the local community. It is not just a tasting, but a slow-paced experience that weaves together nature, tradition, and conviviality.

From the oil mill to the municipal olive grove

The day follows a route that crosses the entire territory. The morning is dedicated to a guided tasting of local oils at the Frantoio sociale delle Colline Ardenghesche, the productive heart of olive farming in these hills. In the afternoon, the meeting point shifts to the camper area of Civitella Marittima, from where the walk to the municipal olive grove begins for the actual picnic among the trees—a convivial and recreational moment open to everyone, featuring activities and games immersed in nature.

The initiative is also linked to the memory of the Festa del buco unto, an ancient local celebration of Maremma flavors and new oil, deeply rooted in the area's traditions. The Municipality of Civitella Paganico joined the National Association of Olive Oil Cities in 2025 to protect and promote olive oil culture and the olive landscape.

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', in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic. This theme goes beyond gastronomy, turning the picnic into a moment of reflection on community values, memory, and local identity. As Mayor Alessandra Biondi highlighted, initiatives like 'Merenda nell'oliveta' promote slow tourism based on authentic experiences that unite landscape, traditions, and community.

Why participate

• Experience the olive landscape of the Tuscan Maremma in an authentic and relaxed way.
• Taste local extra virgin olive oils directly at the mill.
• Join the walk and the convivial picnic in the municipal olive grove.
• Discover Civitella Paganico, Civitella Marittima, and the rural identity of the province of Grosseto.

An event designed for those seeking slow, high-quality tourism that tells the story of olive oil culture and the rural soul of southern Tuscany.