Millennial olive trees: what are they like and where to see them?
They are the longest-lived survivors of the plant world, capable of defying erosion, drought and fires, and surviving in poor, rocky soils. We are talking about the ancient olive trees, a Botanical jewel that has witnessed the history and culture of the Mediterranean region for more than two millennia.
These unique trees are not only an icon of the Mediterranean that fascinates tourists and nature lovers, but also a Source of wealth and tradition For the peoples and communities that, since ancient times, have been able to value their fruit: olive oil.
Today, we can all see photos of millennial olive trees at a single click, but only some lucky ones have admired their beauty in person. Find out in this post where to see ancient olive trees in Spain!
Where are the millennial olive trees?
Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal… There are several Mediterranean countries where you can find specimens of millennial olive trees of up to 15 meters high and hundreds of tons of weight.
Each tells a story of survival, adaptation and cultural legacy that deserves to be preserved.
And it is that the ancient olive trees are a protected species and at the same time threatened, because their longevity and their fragility make them vulnerable, especially in the face of climate change and human activity. Thus, its conservation and its tourism and educational promotion before future generations are essential to ensure its legacy.
Millennium olive trees in Spain: What is the Sénia territory?
Did you know that in Spain there is a route of ancient olive trees? a total of 27 Spanish municipalities comprise the territory of Senia, the largest concentration of millennial olive trees of the world. Its more than 6,000 monumental specimens are distributed among the Valencian Community, Catalonia and Aragon, on horseback between the provinces of Castellón, Tarragona and Teruel.
Most are from the Farga variety, with a trunk perimeter greater than 3.50 meters. All of them make up what many call “Mar de Olivos”, a landscape like no other in which open-air museums and interpretation centers have been conditioned in places like the municipality of Canet Lo Roig. In them you can enjoy guided tours of the oil mills and even oil tasting of the millennial olive trees.
Gorga’s bi-millennial olive tree, in Valencia, is one of the most popular and is that it is a natural tree house, with more than 2,000 years old.
Main characteristics of the millennial olive trees
How to differentiate a millennial olive tree? These are its main features:
- leaves, flower and fruits. Olive leaves are perennial and thick, dark green bright. Its white flower sprouts in April and May, while its fruits, olives, ripen between summer and December.
- Wide cup. Its cup is usually of great volume and leafy, ending in a thick trunk.
- Curious shapes. After several years of life, the millennial olive trees take on the most original shapes. Its large twisted trunks with holes are its hallmark.
- high resistance. Olive trees have the ability to carry out the same process for centuries, regardless of the climatic conditions.
The tradition of ancient olive trees in the world
In addition to Spain, we can find ancient olive trees around the world. In Palestine there are more than 4,000 years old, since the harvest of these trees is an essential part of their culture.
In fact, there several families organize their lives around that of the ancient olive trees themselves. October is one of the most relevant months of the year for the Palestinians, as it is the season in which the olive harvest begins.
Beloleum’s olive trees
Aragon, our land, has some of the oldest olive trees in Spain. In the Campo de Belchite region there are large extensions of centenary olive trees, some with more than 500 years old. This ecosystem offers us an unmistakable olive oil, the Denomination of Origin Aragón.
On Beloleum We have worked with this legendary raw material since 1879, combining history, tradition and avant-garde to produce an extra virgin olive oil of the highest quality.. Our gourmet product is a pleasure for all the senses. also for the eyes, since we take care of the design of our Olive oil bottles for gift, making them a perfect and innovative option.
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