The olive harvest arrives in Umbria each autumn, and with it the return of Frantoi Aperti, the annual open-mill event that lets visitors step inside working oil mills, see the press in action, and taste oil made that morning. Dates for 2026 are expected to fall across the final two weekends of October and the first weekend of November, in line with previous years.
What Frantoi Aperti Is
Frantoi Aperti translates literally as “open oil mills”. During the event, dozens of traditional mills across Umbria unlock their doors to visitors. You can watch the whole process from freshly harvested olives being washed and weighed through to the press and the first pour of emerald-green oil. Many mills pair tastings with local bread, and some run guided tours of the groves beforehand.
The event is organised by the Strada dell’Olio e.v.o. di Oliva del Trasimeno, a producers’ association based around Lake Trasimeno in central Umbria. The Trevi area, the hills above Spoleto, and the slopes around Perugia and Assisi are the core producing zones.
What to Expect on the Day
Visits are typically free or low cost and run across Saturday and Sunday. Participating mills post a list of activities on the official site in the weeks before opening. A typical visit includes:
- A walk through the grove with a grower explaining the harvest and the cultivar (Moraiolo and Frantoio are the dominant Umbrian varieties)
- Watching the centrifuge extraction in the mill
- Tasting freshly pressed oil on bread, the so-called bruschetta con olio nuovo
- Often a small local market with regional produce alongside
Some mills also pair the visit with a sitting lunch using that season’s oil, at an additional cost. These fill up quickly and booking ahead is advised.
2026 Dates
Exact dates for 2026 have not been confirmed at time of writing. Frantoi Aperti traditionally runs on two or three weekends between late October and mid-November, corresponding roughly with the Umbrian harvest window. Check the official website at frantoi-aperti.it for confirmed dates as October approaches.
For the last two years, the event has opened on the final Saturday of October and continued through the second weekend of November. Planning a visit around the last weekend of October or the first weekend of November gives the best chance of overlapping with the event.
Getting to the Olive Country
The main areas for Frantoi Aperti are within easy reach of Perugia. From the city centre, the hills of Bettona, Torgiano, and Trevi are all within 30 to 40 kilometres by car. Assisi is roughly 20 kilometres east of Perugia on the SS75.
Trevi, one of the most concentrated areas for oil production and a key Frantoi Aperti hub, is accessible from Perugia via the SS3 or the FCU railway line toward Foligno. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes by train to Foligno, followed by a local bus to Trevi.
A car makes visits easier and allows you to reach multiple mills in a day. Parking near most rural mill sites is free, and the roads through the olive groves are straightforward.
Combining with Other Autumn Events
October and early November are busy across Umbria. The Barolo and Sagrantino grape harvests in the Montefalco area typically run two to three weeks before the olive mills open, so wine country between Bevagna and Montefalco is worth pairing with a Frantoi Aperti visit.
Perugia’s Eurochocolate festival usually runs in the third week of October, drawing large crowds to the city centre. If you prefer quieter streets, timing your stay for the final week of October and combining it with Frantoi Aperti gives you the chocolate festival behind you and the mill visits ahead.
Where to Stay
Perugia is the most practical base for Frantoi Aperti. The city has the widest choice of accommodation, direct rail connections from Rome and Florence, and is well placed for day trips across the producing zones. Assisi offers a quieter alternative and sits close to the olive groves east of the valley.
Agriturismo properties in the olive-producing hills often open during Frantoi Aperti and some run their own tasting events. Booking two to three weeks in advance is advisable for the open weekends, particularly for smaller rural properties.