Nebrodi Olive Oil Festival

The Nebrodi Olive Oil Festival

The Nebrodi Olive Oil Festival is a food, wine, and cultural event held every December in the village of Mirto, a small town in the province of Messina nestled in the hills of the northern Nebrodi mountains. The festival is dedicated to the extra virgin olive oil of the region and was created to celebrate a product that has represented the rural identity of this corner of Sicily for centuries.

The Vaddarica cultivar, the heart of the event

The undisputed star of the festival is the Vaddarica, Mirto's native cultivar, historically known as Scarsitta di Mirto. This variety, grown in the Fitalia river valley, is primarily used for oil production but is also enjoyed as a table olive. The festival explores every aspect of this olive, from the tree to the mill and finally to the table, weaving together rural heritage and new development opportunities linked to oleotourism.

A program of culture, education, and tasting

The event spans several days with a rich and varied program. Activities range from conferences hosted at Palazzo Cupane, home to the Museum of Sicilian Costume and Fashion, to educational workshops for students from schools in Mirto and neighboring towns. The schedule also includes photo exhibitions dedicated to olive trees and mills, nature displays on Nebrodi mushrooms, masterclasses on local oils, and tastings of typical products in the village squares.

Tradition and innovation

The festival has made the combination of tradition and innovation its hallmark: alongside the rituals of harvesting and milling, there are discussions on climate risks for Sicilian olive growing and the prospects of oleotourism as a driver of development for inland areas. Each edition also presents the MirtOlio award to individuals who have distinguished themselves in promoting gastronomic culture and the oil of the Nebrodi.

Organization and territory

The event is promoted by the Municipality of Mirto in collaboration with the Union of Nebrodi Municipalities and with the patronage of the Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Mediterranean Fisheries of the Sicilian Region. Guided tours of the mills and oil trails along the Fitalia valley complete an experience that invites visitors to discover an authentic territory, its products, and its hospitality in the heart of the Nebrodi.