Olive and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Festival

A festival dedicated to the green gold of the Canavese

The Olive and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Festival is the annual spring event held in Settimo Vittone, in the heart of the Canavese region and the province of Turin, celebrating one of the most surprising excellences of Piedmont: the extra virgin olive oil of the so-called Riviera Settimese. Organized by the Circolo Molino Lingarda with the patronage of the Municipality, the event traditionally takes place on Palm Sunday, attracting visitors, curious onlookers, and lovers of local products from all over the region.

Settimo Vittone, where the olive tree conquers the mountains

Few know that at the foot of Mount Mombarone, on sun-kissed terraces, the olive tree has been growing for centuries. Its cultivation, documented as far back as the Middle Ages, has experienced an extraordinary rebirth in recent years: over two thousand trees and a community oil mill that collects olives from hundreds of Piedmontese growers every autumn. The local oil, with its delicate organoleptic profile and growing quality, has become a true symbol of the territory.

The festival program

The event spans two days. On Saturday afternoon, the Town Hall council chamber hosts an in-depth conference dedicated to the history and sensory analysis of the local oil, featuring the presentation of the new vintage and insights from industry experts. On Sunday, the town center comes alive with a market showcasing and selling local products, while the Circolo Molino Lingarda stand offers tastings of oil and olive pâté.

• Conference on the history and sensory analysis of the Riviera Settimese oil
• Market featuring local products, handicrafts, and olive trees
• Tastings of extra virgin olive oil and olive-based products
• Guided tours of the Pieve di San Lorenzo

The Pieve di San Lorenzo, a Romanesque jewel among the olive trees

The spiritual and artistic heart of the festival is the Pieve di San Lorenzo with its adjacent baptistery of San Giovanni, a monumental complex founded in the 9th century and surrounded by historic olive trees. On Sunday, guided tours are organized, departing from the market square, allowing visitors to admire the frescoes, the Romanesque architecture, and the panoramic view over the cultivated terraces. It is a perfect opportunity to combine the discovery of the agricultural landscape with the historical heritage of Settimo Vittone.

A celebration of tradition and community

The Olive and Olive Oil Festival is much more than a market: it is the story of a community that has managed to transform its territory, bringing olive growing back to a mountain area of Piedmont. Between tastings, walks through the olive groves, and the atmosphere of Palm Sunday, the event offers an authentic immersion into the traditions and flavors of the Canavese.