Torri Olive Festival Highlights Local Culture, Tastings, and Heritage
Saturday and Sunday, the town of Torri, on the Veronese side of Lake Garda, will host the sixth edition of the “Olive Festival,” offering an exhibition-market of extra virgin olive oil.
At the civic hall of the Museo del castello scaligero, visitors will be able to see the tools used by farmers and harvesters. There will also be works by elementary and middle school students from the province discussing cultivation.
Guided tours of oil mills are also scheduled (Sunday, starting at 9 a.m., departing from viale Fratelli Lavanda).
Exhibitions and Cultural Initiatives
The Ufficio informazioni, located fifty meters from the port, hosts the Benacense publishing review, featuring publications and videos providing an extensive overview of local culture.
Additionally, in Piazza Calderini, within the oratory of Santissima Trinità, visitors can explore the exhibition dedicated to recovering the heritage of popular art (describing the restoration of frescoes, churches, and capitols).
During the two days, there will also be dances, singing, screenings, tastings of bruschette and local products. The Condotta di Slow Food Arcigola, led by Angelo Peretti, will cater to the most refined palates.
Wine Tastings and Professional Meetings
On Saturday at 4:30 p.m., at the castle, Cristiano de Riccardis, a professional taster from Piacenza who has already led several similar events, will guide a tasting of extra virgin oils from various Italian regions. Participation is free. Reservations at 045-6205814 (limited seats, maximum 40).
Conversely, at 2:30 p.m., there will be a conference on nutritional aspects and the evolution of cultivation.
Olive Tree Traditions and History
“In some districts, on the night of Saint John, which marks the summer solstice, people gather flowers and herbs hydrated by dew,” explains Peretti.
“They then dry them in the shade and infuse them with olive oil, to soothe pains. Who doesn’t remember their use for otitis or wart treatment? Basically, extra virgin as medicine.”
“Today, health products are used for marketing, but it is still possible to revive these customs, which belong to our culture,” he adds.
The Origins of Olive Oil
In the past, neither the Romans nor the Etruscans planted the trees; instead, it was monks from Santa Giulia (in Brescia), San Colombano, and San Zeno on the eastern shore of Lake Garda.
The reason? They needed oil, a fuel that burns without producing clouds of smoke, primarily to light the dark monasteries.
In cuisine, it was only introduced in subsequent centuries to dress salads and fish.