From the Gargano to the Salento, the olive tree with its silvery leaves can be seen in every corner of Puglia. Young or ancient, frail or bent by the wind, no one can deny that, this is the plant which symbolises our region with its 60 million olive trees, the number of people living in the whole of Italy. This is a real open-air museum. But the olive tree is more than a landscape heritage. Mediterranean cuisine, especially Puglia's culinary tradition, is a celebration of the fruits of the olive tree. Extra virgin olive oil is an essential resource, the central element and binder, ingredient and seasoning at the same time. It enhances the flavour of foods, and transforms an ordinary soup into a delicious delicacy. Olive oil, like wine, is a major tourist attaction. It is the witness of the ancient culture of oil milling, which binds the people of Puglia to their land. Travellers will discover it both on their tables, and when visiting museums and farms, but most of all they will find it in the area's many oil mills, almost considered as “cathedrals of oil” because of their rarefied and unique atmosphere.
facebook
