May 162014
 

Meandering through the ancient olive groves owned by producers Marta Consiglia and her brother, Vito Lisi in Miggiano, Puglia, I came upon an olive wood nymph. If we hadn’t captured her on camera, you wouldn’t have believed me.

Ancient olive tree in Azienda Agricola Merico Maria Rosa's olive groves. Credit: Nathan Hoyt

Ancient olive tree in Azienda Agricola Merico Maria Rosa’s olive groves. Credit: Nathan Hoyt

The tree from which she emerged is 500 years old and still producing olives for oil, the lifeblood of a region has been cultivating olives for oil for over 5000 years. Until modern times, much of the oil was crude and inedible, destined for lampante, lamp oil that lit the streets, homes, and churches of Europe.

Consiglia Lisi with her son, Emanuele at Frantoio Merico Maria Rosa. Credit: Nathan Hoyt

Consiglia Lisi with her son, Emanuele, at Frantoio Merico Maria Rosa. Credit: Nathan Hoyt.

Today, the family produces organic, high quality extra-virgin olive oil, and citrus-pressed extra-virgin olive oil made from one-third chopped fresh lemons pressed with two-thirds olives.

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  4 Responses to “Miggiano, Puglia: A Sighting of an Olive Wood Nymph”

  1. Beautiful, Julia! Oh, how I wish I had made the trip with you.

  2. Love your stories & pictures Julia. I’ve written you an email which I hope finds you. It’s been
    a long time!

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