TIVOLIO - Olive Oil and Gastronomy Festival
Olive oil and olive culture among the UNESCO sites of Tivoli
About TIVOLIO
A festival dedicated to olive oil in the monumental heart of Tivoli
TIVOLIO is the olive oil and gastronomy festival of Tivoli, in the province of Rome, entirely dedicated to olive culture, extra virgin olive oil, and products of the Mediterranean diet, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. For three days, the event weaves together gastronomy, archaeology, environmental education, and scientific outreach in some of the city's most extraordinary locations: the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor, Hadrian's Villa, and, in some editions, the Mausoleum of the Plautii.
The VILLÆ Institute and the Tiburtine territory
The festival is organized by the Autonomous Institute of Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este - VILLÆ, the Ministry of Culture body managing the two UNESCO sites in Tivoli, with the patronage and support of the Municipality of Tivoli. Established in 2020, the event has quickly become a staple of the Lazio cultural calendar: an occasion where institutions, schools, farms, and associations meet to promote the Tiburtine olive landscape in a sustainable way—one of the oldest and most evocative in Italy, with its historic terraced olive groves surrounding the city.
Conferences, tastings, and walks among the olive trees
The TIVOLIO program alternates between in-depth discussions and festive moments. Opening days host conferences with scholars, nutritionists, chefs, and producers on the relationship between food, institutions, and local development, alongside educational workshops for schools dedicated to extra virgin olive oil tasting and natural cosmetics. There are also original experiences such as mindful olive and oil tasting, nature and archaeological tours through the historic olive groves of Hadrian's Villa, pruning demonstrations, and immersive sound installations under the olive trees.
The olive oil market and producers
The popular heart of the festival is the Olive Oil and Olive Market, hosted under the monumental Triportico of the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor: here, visitors can meet producers, taste local oils, and purchase agri-food and artisanal products linked to olive culture. Guided tastings of bread, oil, and jams are curated in collaboration with Slow Food Tivoli and Valle dell'Aniene, while cooking shows featuring nationally renowned chefs enliven the final day.
Tivoli, city of olive oil in Lazio
TIVOLIO tells the story of an ancient vocation: Tiburtine olive growing dates back to Roman times and still shapes the landscape of the hills overlooking Rome today. The festival is also an invitation to discover Tivoli off the beaten path, combining a visit to Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este with the authentic flavors of the Lazio countryside, in a continuous dialogue between archaeological heritage, nature, and fine dining.
TIVOLIO — edition 2026
TIVOLIO 2026: three days of olive oil, culture, and territory
The 2026 edition of TIVOLIO, scheduled from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, brought Tivoli's two monumental sites to life with a journey combining gastronomy, archaeology, and sustainability. The opening day at the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor was dedicated to the relationship between food, institutions, and local development, with opening remarks by the director of the VILLÆ Institute, Alberto Samonà, and the mayor of Tivoli, Marco Innocenzi.
Saturday at Hadrian's Villa featured unique experiences such as mindful olive and oil tasting, archaeological and nature walks through historic olive groves, pruning demonstrations, and an immersive sound installation under the olive trees, culminating in the awards ceremony for local olive oil producers. The final Sunday, with free admission, attracted a large crowd with the Olive Oil and Olive Market under the Triportico, guided tastings with Slow Food, and a cooking show by chef Max Mariola.
Programme TIVOLIO 2026
Friday, May 29 - Sanctuary of Hercules Victor (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
- Conference on food, institutions, and local development with scholars, nutritionists, chefs, and producers
- Institutional greetings from Alberto Samonà (Director of VILLÆ Institute), Mayor of Tivoli Marco Innocenzi, and Giulio Zelli
- Educational workshops for schools: extra virgin olive oil tasting and natural cosmetics
Saturday, May 30 - Hadrian's Villa
- "Mindful Tasting - Olive and Oil": conscious tasting blending psychology and sensory experience
- Nature and archaeological tours through historic olive groves
- Olive tree pruning demonstrations (polyconic vase system)
- "Immersive listening under the olive tree": sound installation
- Sound journey dedicated to Emperor Hadrian
- Awards ceremony for olive oil companies by DMO Terre di Otium
Sunday, May 31 - Sanctuary of Hercules Victor (10:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
- Olive Oil and Olive Market under the Triportico, featuring agri-food and artisanal products
- Guided extra virgin olive oil tastings
- Cooking show with chef Max Mariola (12:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
- Bread, oil, and jam tastings with Slow Food Tivoli and Valle dell'Aniene
- Meeting with Gabriele Milani, President of Slow Food Lazio
Highlights TIVOLIO 2026
- Two UNESCO sites as a stage: Sanctuary of Hercules Victor and Hadrian's Villa
- Cooking show by chef Max Mariola
- Olive Oil and Olive Market under the Triportico
- Mindful tasting and sound installations among historic olive groves
- Slow Food tastings and awards for local olive oil producers
Prices TIVOLIO 2026
Practical information — TIVOLIO
Getting there
Tivoli can be reached from Rome by train via the FL2 line from Roma Tiburtina (approx. 40 minutes), by Cotral bus from the Ponte Mammolo terminus (Metro B), or by car via the A24 Rome-L'Aquila motorway, taking the Tivoli exit. The Sanctuary of Hercules Victor is located at Via degli Stabilimenti 5; Hadrian's Villa is about 5 km from the center, at Largo Marguerite Yourcenar.
Tickets
Admission varies depending on the day and venue: some days require a fee (approx. 10-15 euros), while the market day at the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor is free. Some activities require prior booking.
Contacts
Information: [email protected] - tel. +39 351 2428135 - villae.cultura.gov.it
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Where does it take place — TIVOLIO
Santuario di Ercole Vincitore e Villa Adriana
Via degli Stabilimenti, 5, 00019 Tivoli