21/04/2026
For the first IGP Olive Oil Festival, on the day dedicated to ‘Olive Oil is Identity – The Roots of History and Culture’, we visited the place that best represents the millennia-old bond between the city and olive oil: the Monte dei Cocci in Testaccio. 🏺
The “Eighth Hill”, 35 metres high and made entirely of millions of amphorae, is a masterpiece of ancient engineering. From the summit, you can enjoy a unique view: from the Gazometro to the former Slaughterhouse, Sant’Anselmo, right up to Rome’s first historic stadium. For centuries, it has been the setting for shows, bullfights and processions. This hill, which ‘breathes’ thanks to the porosity of the clay, creating a microclimate, was also perfect for carving out cellars. It is in an archaeological cave that Taste’Accio’s delicatessen is located, its walls carved from the mound of pottery shards. Here we sampled cured meats and cheeses matured in the silence of history, whilst the Evoo School guided us through a practical tasting session to learn how to recognise a good olive oil. 🌿🍷
