Olive Oil Festival

The Olive Oil Festival of Cantalupo in Sabina

In the heart of Sabina, a land dedicated for centuries to olive trees and home to one of Italy's most renowned extra virgin olive oils, the village of Cantalupo in Sabina (Rieti province, Lazio) dedicates an autumn festival to the 'green gold' of its hills. The Olive Oil Festival, promoted by the Pro Loco of Cantalupo in Sabina, was created to spread the culture of olive oil and showcase the territory's signature product: freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil, known as olio novello.

A young yet deeply rooted tradition

The event began in December 2022 and has since moved to October, the peak month for harvesting and pressing, when the new oil arrives on tables with its unmistakable fresh and peppery flavor. The usual venue is Parco Camuccini, a large green space connected to the historic center that hosts stalls, communal tables, and workshops. The festival often includes a charitable aspect, with a portion of the proceeds supporting local social initiatives.

Tastings and traditional dishes

The main attraction is, of course, tasting the new oil, accompanied by classic bruschetta and typical Sabine products. The gastronomic heart of the festival is the maccheroni a cento, a type of handmade pasta specific to Cantalupo: an irregular spaghetti made from flour, water, oil, and salt, served at the park's long tables. Other rustic dishes are also available, such as handmade sheets of pasta and gnocchi prepared on-site by the expert hands of local women.

Olive culture and community spirit

• New oil tasting and guided sessions on how to evaluate extra virgin olive oil;
• Blessing of the oil, a moment that blends rural tradition with popular devotion;
• Meetings and conferences on the role of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet and its health benefits;
• Demonstrations related to olive harvesting and rural life in Sabina;
• Stalls featuring local producers and a market of typical products.

A village to discover

The Olive Oil Festival is also the perfect opportunity to visit Cantalupo in Sabina, a small town perched among the olive groves of the lower Sabine region, featuring a castle and charming historic alleys. Between tastings, the festival captures the authentic atmosphere of Lazio's villages in autumn, where olive culture remains a living heritage passed down through generations. It is an event designed for families, food enthusiasts, and anyone eager to experience the extra virgin olive oil of Sabina firsthand.