The 4,000 Year Old Olive Tree


Our flight to Milano didn't leave until dinnertime, so we crammed in one last outing near Stazzo Chivoni before heading back to the airport in Olbia. Leo drove us on a twisting, one-track road to see a grove of Sardinia's ancient olive trees about 15 km away, where we met Marzia and some of their friends.

The 4,000 year old tree is now roped off. When this was private property people would climb the tree and carve their initials in it.
A nearby tree, about 2,000 years old, is accessible. The ranger told us that the branches grow downward toward the ground, forming a natural shelter. 250 sheep could take refuge in this outdoor "room."
These are the original heirloom olives, from which cultivated olives are derived. The fruits on these trees were tiny, about 3/8" long, and mostly pit. The trees are on a hillside overlooking Lake Liscia. Whether we were under the boughs or out in the meadow, the entire place had a fresh, earthy aroma that was somehow familiar, yet I couldn't put my finger on it.

Leo in the meadow among the olives, looking out on Lake Liscia
Next we drove back through the town of Luogosanto and up a hill to a country church. The builders of the chapel used some of the naturally occurring rock formations as the end walls of the structure.

Country church atop a rock outcrop above Luogosanto
The rocky landscape formed part of the end wall of the church
Little lizards scurried all around the rocks outside the church
Cyclamen grow in a moist, sheltered spot
We could look down on the town of Luogosanto from the rocks just outside the church door.


Then it was back to Leo and Marzia's place for a quick meal of raw favas and cheese, cold cuts, Leo's home grown olives, and pane guittau. 

Favas, olives, cheese, local salumi, and pane guittau
One of their friends snapped this photo of the four of us just before Gauss and I left for the airport. Then I took a parting shot of the Stazzo Chivoni cat, Gattis.


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