The hidden treasures of the Sabine Hills

Toffia

Perfect for a day trip from Rome out in the countryside or a longer stay as part of a relaxing holiday, the Sabine Hills (Sabina), will reward its visitors with ancient medieval history, Renaissance palaces, castles and monasteries, cultural events, art exhibitions, unspoiled landscape, hiking trails and of course the Sabina DOP extra virgin olive oil from its olive groves.

View over the Sabine Hills

Quintessentially Italian countryside

The way the Sabine Hills are still today very rural and unspoiled is almost miraculous, despite its vicinity to a big city like Rome. The landscape of Sabine region is quintessentially Italian, with its rolling hills covered by olive groves and fruit orchards and dotted with medieval hilltop villages and castles. Because of the olive trees and other evergreen Mediterranean plants, the Sabine hills are very green all year round. A visit to one of the many hilltop villages in the area will reveal beautiful views over valleys and mountains in the far distance.

Bruschette with Sabine Hill's olive oil

Food in the Sabine Hills

Sabina is famous for its extra virgin olive oil, the very first in Italy to receive the DOP denomination. Olive oil has been produced here for millennia (there is an olive tree that's 2000 years old) and is known for being light and flavorful at the same time. The area is also well known for pecorino cheese, olives, salami and of course guanciale (cured pork cheek), necessary for any amatriciana or carbonara pasta sauce. Cooking classes, ranging from half day to 5 nights, are run in Toffia by Convivio Rome as well as half-day olive oil tours and wine tours.

Sally and Chef Guido
Founders of Convivio Rome Italian Cooking Holidays, Virtual Cooking Classes and Guido’s Cook Club Monthly Membership

Convivio Rome Italian Cooking Holidays

One Day Italian Cooking Classes

Half Day Rome Olive Tours

Half Day Rome Winery and Wine Tasting Tours

Virtual Italian Cooking Parties

Online Cooking Classes with Chef Guido

Corporate Virtual Cooking Events

Guido's Cook Club Monthly Membership

Online Video Italian Cooking Package

Olive Harvest in the Sabine Hills, near Rome, Italy

What a great time of year to visit the Roman countryside and especially the Sabine Hills. The Sabina region, just 40 kms north of Rome is famous for it's extra virgin olive oil and with over 2,5000,000 trees squeezed into hilly terrain you can understand why it is so important. The olive farmers make sure that the quality of the olive oil is at its best by picking the olives just as they are turning from green to black in colour. This is when the anti-oxidants are at their highest. The olive producers really concentrate on quality, not quantity and the Sabine Hills are now 'alive with the sound of music' of olive pickers. It is an exciting time to visit.

Olive picking with crates of olives already picked

We, at Convivio Rome, run Half Day Olive Tours all year round, but if you happen to be in the area in late October to early December, this is the time where olives are picked. You can understand how labour intensive olive picking is, when seeing it in action.

Olive harvest in progress takes teamwork

The olives need to be picked and taken to the local 'frantoio' olive mill, within 24 hours to ensure the quality of the extra virgin olive oil remains high.

Being an eighth generation Roman, means that even as a child I was taught by my parents and grandparents the importance of the Sabine Hills for it's D.O.P. extra virgin olive oil. I remember travelling with my family through the Sabine Hills to renew our supply of the famous Sabina extra virgin olive oil, and other local produce, to take back home to Rome. 

The olive trees are full with olives ready to be picked

We operate Rome Olive tours all year round, to discover more:

http://www.conviviorome.com/olive-tour.html

Or contact me, Guido, at Convivio Rome on info@conviviorome.com

www.conviviorome.com

www.winetoursrome.com