Merenda nell'Oliveta

Merenda nell'Oliveta in Controguerra

The Merenda nell'Oliveta is the event through which the Municipality of Controguerra, in the province of Teramo, participates in the major national initiative promoted by the National Association of Oil Cities (Associazione Nazionale Città dell'Olio). Created to rediscover the cultural, landscape, and nutritional value of olive groves, the event offers an afternoon outdoors among the ancient olive trees that shape the hills of the village, the heart of the Val Vibrata and the borderlands between Abruzzo and the Marche.

A journey through nature and olive growing

The meeting point is always the ancient olive tree located in front of the Town Hall, on Via G. Amadio. From there, participants head towards the local olive groves and mills, such as the Frantoio Oleario Macci Ugo, for a guided walk that combines naturalistic observation with technical insights. Agronomists and panel tasters like Bernardo Serra and Luciano Pollastri guide the public in discovering sustainable olive growing, biodiversity, and the vegetative state of the trees, while identifying the wild herbs that grow among them.

Photography and local products

Each edition complements the walk with moments dedicated to landscape photography, featuring workshops led by local photographers, and the "Uno Sguardo su Controguerra" (A Glimpse of Controguerra) photo contest, which invites participants to capture the beauty of this corner of Abruzzo. The afternoon concludes with a convivial snack among the olive trees, enlivened by local delicacies: extra virgin olive oil, local wines (Controguerra is a DOC production area), and traditional peasant specialties.

A national initiative with a sustainable vocation

The Merenda nell'Oliveta is part of the national program of the Città dell'Olio, which every year involves over one hundred Italian municipalities around a common theme. The 2026 edition, the sixth national one, is dedicated to the theme "The Oil of the Republic." In Controguerra, the initiative is divided into several appointments between May and June, with the support of local organizations such as the Pro Loco, the Youth and Senior Social Center, and Auser Val Vibrata, all focused on sustainable tourism and the enhancement of the olive-growing heritage.

Practical information

Admission is free and open to all. Participants are advised to bring a towel or blanket, water, a camera, and trekking shoes suitable for walking in the olive groves. The event takes place in the Municipality of Controguerra, in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region.