Fratelli Carli and the Guatelli Collection: A Journey Through Olive Oil Culture and Italian Traditions

Articolo del April 3, 2026. Pubblicato in MUSEUMS & WHAT TO VISIT

Imperia, Olive Oil and a Story That Has Lasted for Over a Century

When talking about Imperia, it is impossible not to think of extra virgin olive oil. The hills surrounding the city are covered with olive groves that have shaped the landscape of the Riviera dei Fiori for centuries and represent one of the most important agricultural traditions in Liguria.

Among the names that helped make Ligurian olive oil famous throughout Italy and around the world, Fratelli Carli stands out. Founded in Oneglia in 1911, the company remains a symbol of the olive oil culture of Western Liguria.

A visit to the company's facilities is not only an opportunity to discover the history of olive oil but also to embark on a fascinating journey through Italian traditions and collective memory thanks to the extraordinary Guatelli Collection.

The Story of Fratelli Carli

The story began in the early twentieth century when Giovanni Carli decided to sell the olive oil produced on the Ligurian Riviera directly to customers throughout Italy.

What started as a small family business gradually became one of the most respected and recognizable companies in the Italian food industry.

Today, the connection with Imperia and the surrounding territory remains strong. Olive oil, Taggiasca olives, and Mediterranean culture continue to be at the heart of the company's identity.

Walking through the streets of Oneglia, it is easy to understand how closely the city's history is linked to the olive oil trade and to the entrepreneurial families who contributed to its prosperity.

The Olive Museum: Mediterranean History Told Through a Tree

Located within the Fratelli Carli complex, the Olive Museum is considered one of the most important museums dedicated to olive oil culture in Europe.

The exhibition guides visitors through thousands of years of history, showing how the olive tree influenced the civilizations of the Mediterranean.

Ancient olive presses, archaeological finds, historical documents, and traditional tools illustrate the evolution of olive cultivation and oil production over the centuries.

More than a museum dedicated to a food product, it is a fascinating journey through Mediterranean culture and the relationship between people and the land.

The Remarkable Guatelli Collection

Many visitors arrive to learn about olive oil and instead discover one of Italy's most fascinating ethnographic collections.

The Guatelli Collection is named after Ettore Guatelli, a primary school teacher and passionate collector of everyday objects.

Throughout his life, he gathered thousands of tools, utensils, and objects used in rural and artisan life across Italy.

The collection displayed in Imperia presents a selection of this extraordinary heritage, offering insight into how generations of Italians lived and worked.

Shoes, farming tools, household items, and traditional work equipment tell simple yet powerful stories deeply connected to the collective memory of the country.

A Museum About People

The true value of the Guatelli Collection lies not in the objects themselves but in the stories they preserve.

Every item reflects the daily lives of farmers, fishermen, craftsmen, and families who lived in close connection with nature and the land.

It is a visit that fascinates both adults and children, transforming ordinary objects into extraordinary testimonies of everyday life.

An Ideal Experience for Visitors to Imperia

A visit to the Olive Museum and the Guatelli Collection is one of the most rewarding cultural experiences in the Riviera dei Fiori.

It is particularly recommended during warmer days or as a complement to a walk through Oneglia and Porto Maurizio.

After the visit, guests can continue discovering local flavours by tasting Taggiasca olives, Ligurian focaccia, pesto, and the wines of Western Liguria in the restaurants and cafés of the historic centre.

Where Culture and Tradition Meet

Imperia is often known for its beaches, sea views, and mild climate. Yet places like the Olive Museum and the Guatelli Collection reveal the city's deeper identity.

Here, the history of olive oil intertwines with the memory of local communities, daily work becomes culture, and the past continues to tell its story through the present.

For anyone wishing to truly understand the Riviera dei Fiori, this visit is an essential experience that combines tradition, local identity, and cultural heritage in a single unforgettable journey.

 

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