Quiroga Olive Oil Fair

This annual event is held in the hamlet of As Farrapas, in the Bendilló olive oil mill. Visitors can admire the traditional olive oil production process through two millings carried out on the day of the festival, and as part of which traditional tools and procedures are used.

If the Quiroga valley is one of the few areas in Galicia where the cultivation of olive trees and the traditional production of olive oil has been maintained, it should come as no surprise that, since the year 2000, this municipality in Lugo province has held an annual event which offers us the chance to observe the entire traditional production process, as well as a space for the sale of this product and others typical of the region.

In addition to the stalls where harvesters sell their oil, the show offers many other delicacies from the region, such as chestnuts, wine, honey and home-made liqueurs, traditional music and dance shows, tastings of the oils involved, as well as sampling of octopus and grilled meat.

The olive-growing tradition in the valley formed by the river Sil between Quiroga and Ribas de Sil dates back a number of centuries.

Its warm climate and fertile soil favour the growth of olive trees, of which it is calculated that around 3,000 are still productive.

The result is an extra virgin oil, with a bright, clean, greenish-yellow colour.

Annual production is constant at around 1,500 litres.

In addition to hosting this popular display of enormous cultural significance and undeniable tourist appeal, and acknowledging producers' efforts to raise awareness of the uniqueness of this oil, Quiroga does much more than simply follow the popular saying:

With olive oil, wine and friends, the older they are, the better.

It's one of the Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia.

Fecha: primer o segundo domingo de mayo (dependiendo de la madurez de la aceituna)

Date: first or second Sunday in May (depending on olive ripeness)