lucca olive oil

After the success of its inaugural event last year, the city
of Lucca in Tuscany recently hosted the second Extra Lucca Summer Edition.
Dedicated to showcasing only the best extra-virgin olive oils, the event is a
spinoff of Extra Lucca, and is held in the distinctive ancient Roman forum.

As many as 24 manufacturers of olive oil gathered in the
Forum every day after the event launched on July 1 showcasing their produce,
while experts also gathered to give presentations and offer olive oil tastings.
Presentations were given daily not only in Italian but also in English,
enabling visitors to Tuscany to discover more about one of Italy’s most famous
exports. Demonstrating the variety and quality of the cultivars, exhibitors
came from all over Italy, showcasing acclaimed varieties of olives including Ottobratica
and Coratina.

Creator of the event Fausto Borella, who is also the
president of the Maestrod’olio Academy, said: “We want to emphasize the true and genuine quality EVOOs rewarded with the
Crowns of Maestrod’olio in our guide Terred’Olio 2016, in
combination with some typical excellences of the region.”
 
He added that
his event would hopefully make more people aware of the differences between a
low-quality and a high-quality olive oil.

 As well as the
Maestrod’olio Academy, several other businesses and organisations within the
local agri-food industry also joined in with the event. Among these are the
Marovelli cheese factory, water producer Acqua Silva, craft brewery Birroir and
Cremeria Opera, who produce ice cream using extra virgin olive oil.

 Alongside the
tasting events, there were also gym classes on offer to help promote healthy
habits, while the sound of Giacomo Puccini and his compositions continued to
resonate throughout the gallery.

According to
Borella, more than 5000 people visited the event. He commented: “It is
priceless to see the expression on the faces of hundreds of tourists arrived in
the city, after the tasting of excellent extra virgin olive oils present at
ExtraLucca Summer Edition.”

 If it’s delicious and authentic Italian food you’re after
from your next holiday, why not take a look at our range of Lucca villas today?
Here you’ll find not only the incredible Tuscan cuisine but also a charming
city filled with amazing architecture and culture.

Image: Oregon State
University, available under Creative Commons