Strada dell'Olio facts for kids

Strada dell'olio means "Oil Road" in Italy. It's a special kind of trip that takes you through areas famous for their amazing food, especially olive oil. These roads often connect places that make traditional Italian products, including those with special quality labels like PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication). Sometimes, these oil roads are also linked to tours about wine.

The main goal of these routes is to show off Italy's best farm products and foods. They especially highlight olive oils that have the PDO label, meaning they come from a specific place and are made in a special way. Along these roads, you can visit frantoi (which are places where olives are pressed to make oil), charming old villages, historic cities, and even ancient ruins. You might also see modern farms and places with natural hot springs.

These "Oil Roads" often go through beautiful areas that are important for history, art, or archaeology. Some places even have special parks where kids can learn about food and farming while playing! You'll find restaurants and farm stays along the way, perfect for trying delicious local food and enjoying the scenery. Many Strade dell'olio are near UNESCO World Heritage sites or places famous for high-quality wines, cheeses, and, of course, olive oil.

Because many of these areas have natural hot springs, Strade dell'olio can also be part of a wellness trip, where people go to relax and feel good.

Discovering Italy's Special Olive Oils

Italy is home to many unique olive oils, each with its own special taste and story. These oils often come from specific regions and are made following strict rules to ensure their quality. This is what the "PDO" (Protected Designation of Origin) label means – it's like a guarantee that the oil is truly special and comes from where it says it does.

Here are some of the regions and provinces in Italy where you can find these amazing PDO olive oils and often explore their "Oil Roads":

• Abruzzo: Look for oils from Aprutino Pescarese and Colline Teatine.
• Calabria: Home to Alto Crotonese, Bruzio, and Lametia oils.
• Campania: Discover Cilento, Colline Salernitane, Colline dell'Ufita, and Penisola Sorrentina oils.
• Emilia Romagna: Try Brisighella and Colline di Romagna oils.
• Friuli Venezia Giulia: Features Tergeste oil.
• Lazio: Explore Canino, Colline Pontine, Sabina, and Tuscia oils.
• Liguria: Known for Riviera Ligure oil.
• Lombardia: Offers Laghi Lombardi oil.
• Marche: Home to Cartoceto oil.
• Molise: Produces Molise oil.
• Puglia: Famous for Collina di Brindisi, Dauno, Terra di Bari, Terra d'Otranto, and Terre Tarentine oils.
• Sardegna: Has its own Sardegna oil.
• Sicilia: Features Monte Etna, Monti Iblei, Val di Mazara, Valdemone, Valle del Belice, and Valli Trapanesi oils.
• Toscana: Enjoy Chianti Classico, Lucca, and Terre di Siena oils.
• Trentino: Part of the Garda oil region.
• Umbria: Produces Umbria oil.
• Veneto: Also part of the Garda oil region, plus Valpolicella, Colli Euganei, Colli Berici, and Monte Grappa oils.

These "Oil Roads" are a fantastic way to learn about Italian culture, history, and, of course, delicious food!