On Saturday, February 1st and Sunday, February 2nd, the Real Collegio in Lucca (Piazza del Collegio 13) will host Lucca Olive Oil You, the festival celebrating high-quality extra virgin olive oil, a symbol of Tuscan tradition.
With over 60 labels from 33 of Italy’s top producers, the event offers a unique opportunity for tastings, showcooking, conferences, and in-depth discussions, focusing on one of the region’s most prized products. This event is part of the Lucca 365 project, which presents a 2025 calendar full of cultural, food & wine, and sports events.
Lucca Olive Oil You is the first festival in the city dedicated to high-quality extra virgin olive oil, and during the weekend of February 1st and 2nd, it will make Lucca the reference point for olive oil, one of the main ingredients of the Mediterranean Diet. The Real Collegio will be the heart of the event, where participants can discover and taste over 60 oils from 33 producers across Italy, representing the finest expressions of this culinary treasure.
Remo Santini, the Tourism Councillor of the Municipality of Lucca, comments: “Lucca Olive Oil You is not just a festival, but an opportunity for our territory, which is part of Lucca 365, a project that brings together gastronomy, art, cinema, and sports. Extra virgin olive oil is a defining product of Lucchese tradition, telling a story of quality and passion.”
The festival program includes a series of in-depth moments and entertainment, with showcooking sessions and lectures by industry experts. The event also aims to promote the culture of olive oil through the creation of an “olive oil card” available in the best local restaurants and educational initiatives in schools, in collaboration with the Accademia Maestrod’olio.
Fausto Borella, the event’s creator, emphasizes: “Lucca Olive Oil You is just the beginning of a journey that aims to make extra virgin olive oil one of the ambassadors of our territory. The event will be an opportunity for producers, institutions, and industry professionals to meet and introduce the magnificent world of extra virgin olive oil.”
The program for Saturday, February 1st begins at 10:00 AM with the presentation “Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Pillar of Health for All Ages,” followed by a coffee break with chocolate pralines made with EVO oil by chocolatier Domenico D’Affronto. At 11:30 AM, the panel “Integrating Olive Oil into the Modern Diet” will be held, while in the afternoon, events will include the showcooking session “Olive Oil in Pastry” with Sandra Bianchi, and the talk “The Art of Sashimi Meets Monocultivar Olive Oils” with chef Masaki Kuroda. The day will conclude at 6:00 PM with the masterclass “Olive Oil is Serious Business” led by Fausto Borella.
On Sunday, February 2nd, the day starts at 10:30 AM with “The Evolution of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Kitchen: A New Concept for an Ancient Product,” presented by chef Fabrizio Girasoli. At 3:00 PM, there will be a wine tasting “Pinot Noir Variations: Italian Stories and Champagne,” and at 5:00 PM, chefs Daniele and Andrea Zazzeri will present “Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The Common Thread Between Generations of Great Tuscan Chefs.” Finally, at 6:00 PM, Giorgio Barchiesi (Giorgione) will lead the showcooking session “From the Garden to the Table: Brassicas with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.” There will also be a space dedicated to Mixology, with bartender Mauro Picchi presenting innovative EVO-based cocktails.
An unmissable weekend to discover and celebrate high-quality extra virgin olive oil and the culinary traditions of Tuscany.
