Tradition and New Oil Festival

Celebrating the 'green gold' of Riparbella

The Tradition and New Oil Festival is one of the most cherished events in the autumn calendar of Riparbella, a small medieval village perched in the hills of the Val di Cecina, in the province of Pisa, in the heart of the Etruscan Coast. The event, organized by Pro Loco Riparbella APS with the patronage of the Municipality of Riparbella, celebrates freshly pressed extra virgin olive oil, the symbol of a landscape where olive groves and vineyards stretch down toward the Tyrrhenian Sea.

A lunch rooted in tradition

The heart of the festival is the grand convivial lunch that brings residents and visitors together in the heated, equipped area of Parco Alberto Dalla Chiesa. The menu showcases the genuine flavors of Tuscan country cooking: appetizers highlight the new oil on classic toasted bread, followed by first courses like homemade pappardelle, mixed grilled meats, and desserts prepared by local bakeries. It is a unique opportunity to savor extra virgin olive oil at its peak, when its aroma and peppery finish tell the story of the recently concluded harvest.

Murals, art, and community

The festival is about more than just gastronomy: strolling through Riparbella, you can admire murals created by street artists on building facades and art installations crafted from trees salvaged after floods—a testament to a community that transforms the scars of the land into opportunities for beauty and rebirth. The event is part of a busy annual calendar curated by the Pro Loco, which brings the village to life from spring through Christmas with festivals, exhibitions, and cultural initiatives.

Riparbella and the Val di Cecina

A medieval village founded around the 11th century by the Counts of Gherardesca, Riparbella overlooks a landscape of hills cultivated with olive trees and vines, just a few kilometers from the beaches of the Etruscan Coast and the forests of the Mediterranean scrub. Visiting the Tradition and New Oil Festival means discovering the most authentic side of Tuscany, far from the major tourist crowds, where hospitality, local products, and rural identity remain vibrant, shared values.