Venolea — Venafro DOP Oil Festival
A day dedicated to DOP oil, historic rural landscape, and sustainable development
About Venolea
DOP Oil Takes Center Stage in Venafro
Venolea is the festival dedicated to Venafro DOP oil, in the province of Isernia, organized by the Regional Park Authority for the Historic Agricultural Olive Grove with the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for Molise. A winter event that celebrates Venafro's olive growing – a valuable landscape and cultural heritage – intertwining gastronomy, archaeology, and sustainability.
Among Historic Oil Mills, Conferences, and Archaeology
The day unfolds across several symbolic locations: visits to historic oil mills and mills in the area, conferences with producers and industry experts, and a session at the Roman amphitheater of Verlasce dedicated to Rural Landscapes of Historic Interest (PRIS), with contributions from national experts and guided tastings by MolisEvo tasters.
The "Plinius Beyond Time" Award
The heart of the event is the Venolea "Plinius Beyond Time" award, which recognizes the best Molise oils with Raku ceramic works. A tribute that links the present of Molise's olive growing to its millennial history, in a setting that enhances the Venafro Olive Park and the entire territory.
Venolea — edition 2026
The 13th edition of Venolea was held on January 24, 2026, organized by the Regional Park Authority for the Historic Agricultural Olive Grove with the Superintendence of Archaeology of Molise. The day intertwined olive growing, archaeology, and sustainability: the morning visit to the historic Santa Maria Oliveto mill (Pozzilli) with the association "Noi Santamarian", the conference with producers and companies in the sector, the signing of an agreement between the Park Authority and the ASP "Vincenzo Zaccagnino" for collaboration between Molise and Puglia, and in the afternoon, the session at the Roman amphitheater of Verlasce dedicated to Rural Landscapes of Historic Interest, with guided tastings by MolisEvo Assaggiatori. The closing event was the "Plinius Beyond Time" award.
Programme Venolea 2026
January 24, 2026 — Venolea XIII
- Morning — Visit to the historic Santa Maria Oliveto mill (Pozzilli), with the "Noi Santamarian" association
- Conference in the council hall of Pozzilli with producers and companies in the sector; signing of the agreement between the Park Authority and ASP "Vincenzo Zaccagnino" (Molise-Puglia)
- Afternoon — Session at the Roman amphitheater of Verlasce on Rural Landscapes of Historic Interest (PRIS), with national experts and guided tastings by MolisEvo Assaggiatori
- Venolea "Plinius Beyond Time" Award (Raku ceramic works): 1st Mario Testa Company (Riccia), 2nd Giacinto Glave Company "Glave Jack" (Ururi), 3rd Salvatore Benedetto Company (Lupara)
Highlights Venolea 2026
Prices Venolea 2026
Practical information — Venolea
When
January (13th edition: January 24, 2026).
Where
Venafro (IS) and surroundings: Olive Park, Roman amphitheater of Verlasce; with a stop at the Santa Maria Oliveto Mill (Pozzilli).
Costs
Conferences and public events are free admission; tastings according to the program.
How to get there
Venafro is reachable by car via the SS85 and has a train station on the Vairano-Isernia line.
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Where does it take place — Venolea
Parco dell'Olivo di Venafro e anfiteatro romano del Verlasce
Parco Regionale Storico Agricolo dell'Olivo, 86079 Venafro