MEDITERRANEAN SYMBOL AMID THE ITALIAN ALPS

Not far from the towering peaks of the Italian Alps, around the shores of Lake Garda, the gentle breezes that characterise the lake create a unique microclimate. Nestled amongst the Italian Alps is a Mediterranean oasis which has been home to the world’s northernmost olive groves for centuries. Today, thanks to innovative production methods, the area boasts a well-known and prestigious extra-virgin olive oil.
There are two factors that make Garda Trentino extra-virgin olive oil so special: the first is its taste, while the second is the land itself. Here, the olive groves are a piece of cultural heritage, passed down through generations of responsible growers who are determined to preserve them for the future.
Particularly noteworthy among the olive varieties of the Garda region is the Casaliva, a highly prized species indigenous to the area. The Casaliva is used to make an extra-virgin oil with a green-gold colour and a delicate fragrance of green almonds, artichokes, and wild herbs.
Around 1,500 tonnes of olives are produced every year in the Garda Trentino area (70% Casaliva, 20-25% Frantoio and the rest are other minor varieties), with a total oil production of about 250 tonnes. One of the zone’s leading associations is the Agraria Riva del Garda, where most of the olives produced by the 1,200 local olive-growers are brought for pressing. This represents around 65% of current production, with about 20 tonnes certified with PDO Garda Trentino designation. Guided tours are on offer at the Agraria, and its products are also available right there on site.
Working alongside this major cooperative are lots of smaller olive mills; these agricultural enterprises are distinguished by a deep passion for preserving this centuries-old tradition through their care for the land. To achieve excellent quality standards, these enterprises adopt methods and criteria for organic certification from harvesting to pressing, and from bottling to storage. Visitors to these family-run businesses can stroll through the magnificent, terraced olive groves while enjoying exceptional views of the vast landscape, all the way from the shores of Lake Garda to Monte Brione and Castello di Arco.
Maso Botes, Oliocru, Madonna delle Vittorie, Frantoio Ivo Bertamini: these are just some of the producers that are always ready to welcome visitors. What’s more, they are among the participants in the Frantoi Aperti initiative; on Sundays in autumn, before the olive harvest and the pressing begins, oil mills are open to teach the public about this special kind of production. On guided tours and sensory walks, visitors will enjoy learning, chatting, savouring the fragrance, and tasting the extra-virgin olive oil produced in Garda Trentino. The olive oil is also served up in many selected restaurants offering themed dishes and menus in fresh new pairings with the finest local produce.
Those who want to immerse themselves in a completely oil-centred experience also have the option of staying at farmhouses and B&Bs surrounded by olive trees in Garda Trentino. At the foot of Monte Brione, surrounded by almost two hectares of olive groves, the ‘O_live’ Agriresort meets the highest criteria in terms of quality, respect for the environment and harmony with the surrounding landscape. It offers a wide range of options for guests who love sports or for those who simply want to relax, with a swimming pool and solarium.
In Arco, Maso Bòtes boasts an organic olive grove and has received Slow Food recognition in the "Italian Extra-Virgin Olive Oil" category for its Millenario oil. The Laghel 7 farm is housed in a recently renovated rural building dating back to the 19th century, set within an olive grove of 300 trees, with an organic vegetable plot and a little stable, offering Western-style riding lessons. The Agritur Calvola farm produces and sells its own wines, cured meats and syrups in addition to extra-virgin olive oil, and also grows vegetables. Arcolive Agrisuite offers the perfect mixture of elegance, nature, and relaxation, with its enormous windows and open terraces overlooking the Arco valley and olive groves. Finally, Oleeva Garda Living is a brand-new B&B guesthouse, also in Arco, with a private patio and garden outside each room plus a swimming pool for a holiday offering intimacy and complete immersion in nature.
Garda Trentino also has lots of secret, hidden views waiting to be discovered by walkers or cyclists exploring the bike and pedestrian paths that are tangled throughout the area, along the slopes covered by the olive trees.
The Rilke Promenade is a literary-themed trail at the foot of Castello di Arco, following in the footsteps of the great Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who stayed here and drew inspiration from these surroundings. The trail passes numerous places that inspired him, or which are mentioned in his famous correspondence with his friend Nora Goudstikker. What’s more, this trail is the perfect starting point for exploring the Laghel area along an easy path that winds through the Arco olive grove and, in part, along the ancient Via Crucis. The trail passes by a series of ancient signs of devotion which are celebrated in Rilke’s poetry, before finally reaching the little valley of Laghel, not far from Arco.
The Coste di Baone trail has a remarkable view that opens up onto the entire basin of Garda Trentino, stretching from Rocchetta to Monte Baldo and across the waters of the lake. With its distinctive rocky slopes and hillsides covered in olive trees, Monte Baone is an unmistakable landmark on the skyline. The walk through the olive groves is an easy one, suitable even for families with children, who will love watching the many climbers making their way up the cliff.