Discover olive oil tourism on autumn weekends in Umbria with Frantoi Aperti from 17 October to 15 November.
Five autumn weekends of celebrations
Umbria becomes a symbol of olive oil tourism with Frantoi Aperti in Umbria from 17 October to 15 November. Five weekends celebrating the olive harvest and pressing season, weaving together with the region's agricultural production, landscapes, culture, spirituality, sport and hospitality. Frantoi Aperti in Umbria offers the chance to get to know the Umbrian region up close, through one of Italy's oldest and most distinctive products and production methods, by taking part in authentic experiences at the very places where olive oil is produced, from the harvesting to tasting the oil. Alongside the production process there will be a programme of artistic, cultural and nature-based events in olive groves, historic villages to explore the region’s finest food and drink specialities.
Motorcycle trails and oil tastings
The 29th edition of Frantoi Aperti in Umbria brings with it a number of new features. Making its debut this year is the Moto Giro dei Frantoi Aperti in Umbria, aimed at motorcyclists which, over three weekends, will offer different routes through olive groves and historic villages, and stopping at olive oil mills for oil tastings. On Sunday 18 October, the first Frantoi Aperti Trail Run will be run along dirt tracks through Umbrian olive groves. 
ph credits Pier Paolo Metelli
Festivals celebrating new olive oil
The olive mills in operation will be the beating heart of the event. Here, visitors will be able to watch the olives being pressed, learn about the production processes for new olive oil, take part in guided tastings and discover the region through the flavours of Umbrian extra virgin olive oil. There will also be treks, nature walks, cycle tours, family activities and workshops dedicated to olive oil culture. Shuttle buses, guided walking tours and e-bike excursions will link the olive groves to villages and art cities which will host festivals celebrating new olive oil, markets with local producers and artisans, guided tours and tastings in town squares.
ph credits Pier Paolo Metelli
A cycle ride from Assisi to Spoleto
To mark the 800th anniversary of St Francis, the “EVO&Art Experience” tours will take participants on guided itineraries through the sub-zones of the Umbria PDO, weaving together the culture of extra virgin olive oil with art, biodiversity and the region’s most iconic Franciscan sites. On 18 October, the Grande Pedalata cycle ride along the Assisi–Spoleto Olive Belt will also return for the fourth year running. Starting from Spoleto and finishing in Campello sul Clitunno, the cycle route will pass through one of central Italy’s most iconic rural landscapes which is a Historic Rural Landscape listed in FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status.
courtesy of Frantoi Aperti - ph credits Pier Paolo MetelliSpecial menus showcasing olive oils
All this will be complemented by exceptional food over the course of five weekends, with chefs from the “Umbrian #EVOOAmbassador – Testimoni di oli unici” network presenting special menus designed to showcase the extra virgin olive oils of the producers taking part in the event. For information www.frantoiaperti.net
