Olive Mill and Museum of the Excellence of Sestri Olive Growers
The Sestri Levante Olive Growers’ Cooperative: Tradition and Innovation
In Sestri Levante, in the Valle Ragone area, stands the headquarters of the Sestri Levante Olive Growers’ Cooperative, the beating heart of local olive oil production. Here, a modern mill transforms olives into high-quality oil, while a store selling agricultural products and vegetable plants, along with the “Bottega dei Sapori”, offers local specialties and typical products, creating a bridge between tradition and innovation.
A Step Back in Time: The 19th-Century Olive Mill
Inside the headquarters, a small museum-style exhibition reconstructs a 19th-century olive mill, complete with an animal-driven millstone, press with small baskets for pressing, the “quarta” – a bucket historically used in Liguria for olive collection – and traditional jars for storing oil. In 2010, the Cooperative recovered two ancient wooden screw presses with stone bases and a stone millstone, preserving an important piece of the area’s agricultural heritage.
Educational Activities and Tastings
Since 2014, the Cooperative has been accredited as an educational farm, welcoming guided tours, tasting workshops, and olive oil sampling. Schools, Italian and international groups, families, and curious visitors can learn about the history of olive oil, the workings of traditional mills, and centuries-old Ligurian traditions, making every visit an educational and sensory experience.
Sources
Dentone M., Delucchi B., “Mulini e frantoi a Varese Ligure e Moneglia”, in Delpino M., Lagomarsino R., Barrai M., a cura di, “Mi ricordo il mulino… raccolta antologica di saggi, racconti e poesie”, Ed. Tigullio Bacherontius, Rapallo, 1999, pp. 30-50;
https://www.facebook.com/OlivicoltoriSestresi/;
https://www.agriligurianet.it/it/vetrina/turismo-verde/ricerca-agriturismo-aziende/item/4990-coop-olivicoltori-sestresi.html;
https://liguriatogether.it/singolo-associato/olivicoltori-sestresi/singolo-associato/
Trekking and cycling routes that may interest you
Itineraries of different durations and suitable for every taste and level of preparation, to discover the most beautiful and evocative places and panoramas of the Ligurian Tigullio.
Local experiences that might interest you
Let yourself be guided and be surprised by the hidden treasures that the Ligurian Tigullio area is capable of offering you in every season.
Sport
Hiking routes, climbing, mountain biking and much more… Choose the sport in contact with nature that’s right for you!
Culture
Shows, Theatre, Music, Food and Wine, Reading… Experience the cultural and artistic proposals, immersed in the Ligurian landscape.
Nature
Geology, bird watching, nature engineering and other initiatives, to cultivate awareness and responsibility for environmental issues.
More heritage that may interest you
Catalog of the tangible and intangible heritage, a precious resource of the Tigullio for community building and local development.
Join us!
Preserve the history and traditions of the Ligurian Tigullio area and keep them alive for future generations.