Frantoi Aperti [olive presses opened] is an event, now in its 19th year, spread throughout the Umbria region, to be held this year from October 29 to November 27.
It's a wonderful opportunity to discover this lovely region in the heart of Italy; during the course of five weekends you can visit the lesser-known Umbria, one of countless medieval villages, olive presses, farm estates and small museums.
It will be the opportunity to participate in performances of traditional music in the piazze; to engage children and adults in popular games; to learn how to discover and recognize the true flavor of extra-virgin olive oil, *DOP Umbria, and other products of the Umbrian soil; to walk through the olive groves passing by castles, abbeys, the special places of St. Francis, farmsteads, olive presses and olive trees; to participate in popular medieval historical reenactments; to join in a truffle hunt; and, to enjoy the landscape, the scenery, the local cucina and the local way of life.
But above all it will be an opportunity to bring back home a little bit of Umbria itself, by taking home a supply of DOP Umbria extra-virgin olive oil.
*DOP [Denominazione di Origine Protetta] is an Italian certification designation, the Italian equivalent to Protected Designation of Origin.