A free one-hour visit with a tasting of Garda PDO oil: it is offered by a cooperative in San Felice del Benaco, in the Brescia area where GardaGolf and Bogliaco are played.
An olive mill can be visited in an hour, and for a golfer it makes a useful break on a morning without a green fee: you walk among millstones and centrifuges, taste the new oil and head home with a bottle. Here are three places to do it, each in the same area as a golf course, with what you can see and how to book.
Garda Bresciano: the San Felice del Benaco cooperative
The tourism website of the province of Brescia presents the Cooperativa Agricola San Felice (known as Olio Felice), on via delle Gere in San Felice del Benaco. The visit is guided, lasts an hour and is free, and includes a tasting of Garda PDO extra virgin olive oil. Groups of one to fifty people can take part, in Italian, English and German. From June to September there is a fixed calendar published on the cooperative's website and no booking is needed; in the other months you must book in advance (telephone 0365 62341).
According to the protection consortium, Garda PDO is produced in 63 municipalities across four provinces (Trento, Verona, Mantua, Brescia), in three geographical designations: Garda Bresciano, Garda Orientale and Garda Trentino. The main cultivars are Casaliva, Frantoio and Leccino, with Favarol among the typical ones. The Consortium, recognised on 18 March 2004, is based in Cavaion Veronese.
Garda Trentino: Frantoi Aperti, 7–8 November 2026
On the Trentino side, the Garda Trentino tourist board organises Frantoi Aperti: the 2026 edition takes place on 7 and 8 November, with guided visits and tastings of Garda Trentino PDO oil at seven olive mills. Prices and booking arrangements must be requested from the board.
Courses and hotels on the Brescia shore of Garda
The GardaGolf Country Club in Soiano del Lago, 27 holes and host of three Italian Opens, is in the Brescia area; on the Verona side, Ca' degli Ulivi in Costermano has olive groves and small lakes over 27 holes. For a place to stay there is the Grand Hotel Fasano in Gardone Riviera: it has no course of its own and lists Golf Bogliaco, Gardagolf and Arzaga among its reference courses.
Liguria: Alassio and the Aldo Armato olive mill
The tourist page for Alassio describes the Frantoio Aldo Armato, at via Solferino 3: a visit to the mill and a tasting led by a certified O.N.A.O.O. taster (Organizzazione Nazionale Assaggiatori Olio di Oliva, the national olive oil tasters' organisation). You choose between three formats: a tasting of three Taggiasca extra virgin oils, the "Ligurian tasting" with olives, pesto and pâté on home-baked bread, and the "Complete" with local specialities, focaccia and wine. The price is from 10 to 20 euros for adults, free for under-10s, and is paid at the mill. You book directly with the mill, mentioning any allergies and your language (Italian or English) in advance.
The course and the hotels
The Golf Club Garlenda, 18 holes, par 72, in the Val Lerrone, alternates nine holes among olive trees with nine among pines and oaks. The Grand Hotel Alassio lists it as its reference course, about ten minutes by car according to the hotel. In Garlenda you stay at La Meridiana: its restaurant Il Rosmarino, led by chef Roberto Conti, cooks with extra virgin olive oil and Taggiasca olives.
Apulia: hotels with an olive mill in their history
In Apulia, near the courses of Fasano, two masserie have an olive mill in their history:
- Masseria Torre Coccaro: the hotel says its olive groves are more than 800 years old; the old mill and the sheepfolds dug into caves date back, according to the family, to the year 1000.
- Masseria Torre Maizza: the Irene Forte Spa is housed in a restored olive mill, open every day from 10 am to 8 pm.
Curiosities
- A PDO in three pieces. Garda PDO is divided into Bresciano, Orientale and Trentino, and to recognise it the label carries a numbered seal and the word Garda.
- A spa where olives used to be crushed. At Torre Maizza the treatments take place in the farm's restored olive mill.
- A certified taster. In Alassio the tasting is led by an O.N.A.O.O. taster.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit an olive mill on Lake Garda?+
Yes: the Cooperativa Agricola San Felice in San Felice del Benaco offers a free one-hour guided visit with a tasting of Garda PDO oil. From June to September there is a fixed calendar with no booking; in the other months you book.
How much does an olive oil tasting cost in Alassio?+
At the Frantoio Aldo Armato, from 10 to 20 euros for adults depending on the format; free for under-10s.
When is Frantoi Aperti on Garda Trentino?+
The 2026 edition is on 7 and 8 November, at seven olive mills with guided visits and tastings.
Which olives are used for Garda PDO oil?+
Mainly Casaliva, Frantoio and Leccino; Favarol is among the typical varieties.
Where can you play golf near the San Felice del Benaco olive mill?+
In the Brescia area there are GardaGolf in Soiano del Lago and, as listed by the Grand Hotel Fasano, Golf Bogliaco.
Is Golf Club Garlenda close to Alassio?+
The Grand Hotel Alassio places it about ten minutes away by car.
