The National Association of Oil Cities was founded in 1994 in Larino, in the province of Campobasso and has its headquarters in Villa Parigini in the municipality of Monteriggioni in the beautiful hills of Siena.
The aim of the Association is to bring together municipalities, provinces, chambers of commerce, LAGs (Local Action Groups) and parks, located in territories where oils are produced that document an adequate olive-growing tradition connected to environmental, historical, cultural values and/or fall under a Denomination of Origin.
Specifically, one of the Association's main tasks is to disseminate the culture of the olive tree and quality olive oil;
- protect and promote the olive-growing environment and landscape; and
- to disseminate the history of olive growing; to guarantee consumers through the valorisation of designations of origin; to organise events; and to implement communication and marketing strategies aimed at raising awareness of Italy's great olive-growing heritage.
The ASSOCIAZIONE NAZIONALE CITTÀ DELL'OLIO DI PUGLIA (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUGLIA OIL CITIES) groups the following municipalities
Acquaviva delle Fonti I Andria I Biccari I Bitetto I Bitonto I Bitritto I Canosa di Puglia I Caprarica di Lecce I Carpino I Cassano delle Murge I Castellana Grotte I Corato I Fasano I Giovinazzo I Mattinata I Melendugno I Minervino Murge I Molfetta I Monopoli I Otranto I Presicce- Acquarica I Ruvo di Puglia I Sammichele di Bari I San Severo I Sannicandro di Bari I Santeramo in Colle I Serracapriola I Terlizzi I Torremaggiore I Trinitapoli I Uggiano La Chiesa I Vico del Gargano I Vieste I Alta Murgia National Park.
REGIONAL COORDINATION APULIA
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INTERVIEW WITH VANNI SANSONETTI, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION "CITTÀ DELL'OLIO" (OIL CITIES)
In recent years, tourism in Puglia has been embracing important innovations. Among these is oleotourism, which Vanni Sansonetti, councillor for Productive Activities of the municipality of Castellana Grotte and vice-president of the National Association 'Cities of Oil', defines as 'a natural development of the territories'. After the issuing of the government decree, which came into force on 15 February 2022 and is aimed at explaining the guidelines for oil tourism, the implementation decree of the Apulia Region is awaited.
'Today, tourists are constantly looking for experiences,' Sansonetti began, 'that make their stay in a particular place unique.
A land like Apulia has much to offer in these terms. Visits to olive oil mills are a wonderful opportunity to transfer knowledge about local products.
'Through a recently signed memorandum of understanding with the Region, we are working to create a fundamental legal framework,' Sansonetti continues, 'for which there is an open and constant dialogue.
Vanni Sansonetti's approach also looks at the context in which the development of oleotourism is possible. In fact, the latter cannot be separated from the willingness of museums, oil mills, food and catering-related activities, which should adopt an attitude of openness to novelty.
'The involvement of several subjects active in the territory in different sectors represents fertile ground,' Sansonetti concludes, 'on which oleotourism rests its foundations.
Foundations that start from awareness.
The same that the National Association of 'Oil Cities' is committed to transferring through information meetings on such a topical issue.
