Vetralla Olive Oil Festival – EVOluzione

Vetralla, land of olive oil

Nestled along the Via Cassia at the foot of the Monti Cimini, Vetralla is one of the most important olive-growing centers in the province of Viterbo. Here, the olive tree has shaped the landscape for centuries, and the local extra virgin olive oil—frequently awarded in both Italian and international competitions—is a true symbol of the community. It is no surprise that the Municipality of Vetralla dedicates a festival to its 'green gold' that is anticipated all year round, drawing visitors from across the Tuscia region and nearby Rome.

From Fest'Olio to EVOluzione: the history of the festival

The event has a long history. For about twenty years, it was known as Fest'Olio, the Vetralla extra virgin olive oil festival, traditionally celebrated in the heart of winter, often coinciding with the historic Sant'Antonio Fair in mid-January. The twentieth edition took place in 2022 and the twenty-first in December 2023. Following a January 2025 edition hampered by bad weather, the festival was reborn in the autumn of the same year with a renewed format and a new name, EVOluzione – Vetralla Terra dell'Olio, organized by the Pro Loco Vetralla APS with the support of the Municipality of Vetralla, the Lazio Region, and Arsial, and under the patronage of the University of Tuscia.

What to experience in Piazza della Rocca

The beating heart of the festival is Piazza della Rocca, in the historic center. For an entire weekend, the square fills with aromas and opportunities to get to know the local olive oil supply chain up close:

• Producers' stalls, featuring blends and monocultivars of new season oil to taste and purchase;
• Guided tastings of extra virgin olive oil and bruschetta in the square;
• Guided tours of local oil mills, such as the Cooperativa Cesare Battisti, the Cooperativa Olivicoltori, and the Frantoio Paolocci, to see how extra virgin oil is made;
• Show cooking, conferences, and seminars dedicated to olive growing, local history, and traditions;
• A convivial Saturday apericena and Sunday lunch, served indoors by reservation;
• Readings for children with 'Nati per leggere' and wooden games for the little ones.

The twin weekend: the Tozzetto Festival

In the 2025 edition, the olive oil festival inaugurated a true cycle of autumn events: the following weekend, the same Piazza della Rocca hosted the Vetralla Tozzetto Festival, dedicated to the famous hazelnut biscuit from the Monti Cimini, featuring an attempt to set the record for the 'longest tozzetto in the world' and the lighting of Christmas decorations throughout the city. A combination that perfectly captures the spirit of the event: new oil, traditional sweets, and village atmosphere at the gates of Christmas.

An event for the whole Tuscia region

Between the producers' stalls, meetings with agronomists and administrators, and traditional Viterbo cuisine, the Vetralla Olive Oil Festival is an authentic opportunity to discover one of the most interesting olive-growing territories in Lazio. It is also a great excuse to visit the village: the Cathedral of Sant'Andrea, the Romanesque church of San Francesco, and, a few kilometers away, the woods and Etruscan-origin 'vie cave' (sunken roads) that dot the Vetralla countryside.