Olive Oil Festival

The Olive Oil Festival, celebrating olive growing in Civitaquana

The Olive Oil Festival is an annual autumn event that brings the historic center of Civitaquana to life. This small municipality in the Province of Pescara, located in the heart of the Abruzzo region, hosts the festival to celebrate the harvest and milling season. The event focuses on the extra virgin olive oil produced on the local hills, within the Aprutino Pescarese PDO area. Organized by the APS Civitas Aquana association, led by Walter Fattore, the festival has grown with each edition, attracting dozens of exhibitors, including olive oil and wine producers, artisans, and gastronomic experts.

Tastings, workshops, and mill tours

Past editions have featured guided tastings of extra virgin olive oil and sensory workshops led by agronomists and olive oil sommeliers, such as Franco D'Aloisio, who introduce the public to organoleptic qualities and tasting techniques. The heart of the experience lies in tours of local mills, offering the chance to observe both traditional stone-mill methods and continuous-cycle systems, as well as a visit to the historic mill in Brittoli, dating back to 1837.

• Tastings of extra virgin olive oil and local specialties
• Sensory workshops and talks on the history of Abruzzese olive growing
• Guided tours of the mills and the village's historic palaces
• Gastronomic and artisan stalls featuring short-supply-chain producers
• Traditional Abruzzese music, dance, juggling, and performances

History, art, and culture of the village

The Olive Oil Festival is more than just a food and wine fair: it is an opportunity to rediscover the historical heritage of Civitaquana. The event route includes the 13th-century Benedictine church of Madonna delle Grazie and Palazzo Fieramosca, restored after the 2009 earthquake, with meetings dedicated to the town's historical figures. A highlight is the Olive Bride procession, a folkloric re-enactment of the deep bond between the community and olive cultivation.

An identity-defining event for the community

Since its inception, the Olive Oil Festival has established itself as one of the most cherished autumn events in the Pescara hinterland, drawing visitors and enthusiasts from across Abruzzo. Included in the official calendar of initiatives promoted by the Municipality of Civitaquana and local associations, the event helps keep alive a rural tradition that is an integral part of the village's identity.