Merenda nell'Oliveta

A snack among the olive trees

In Ripacandida, at the foot of Monte Vulture, extra virgin olive oil is not just a product: it is landscape, memory, and identity. The Merenda nell'Oliveta was created to tell just that, with a simple and engaging formula: a walk through the village's olive groves that concludes with a guided tasting of local oil, in a festive and convivial atmosphere.

The Oil Cities initiative

The event is part of the national calendar of the Merenda nell'Oliveta, promoted by the National Association of Oil Cities, of which Ripacandida is a part. The goal is the enhancement of the olive landscape, rural traditions, and extra virgin olive oil as an element of culture and tourism. Each edition is themed: in 2026, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, the common thread is "L'Olio della Repubblica" (The Oil of the Republic).

How it unfolds

The afternoon begins at Piazzale di San Donato, the heart of the village, from where participants set off towards the olive-growing districts. Along the route, there are moments of storytelling, meetings with industry experts, and finally, a sensory tasting of the extra virgin olive oil produced in the area. An experience designed for families, enthusiasts, and the curious, immersed in the landscape of the province of Potenza.

Oil and village

Participating in the Merenda nell'Oliveta is also an opportunity to discover Ripacandida, the "little Assisi" of the Vulture with its frescoed Sanctuary, and to take home the authentic taste of an oil that tells centuries of peasant work.