Visit And Discover The Best Olive Oil Mills In Apulia

Behind every corner of Italy are hidden incredible landscapes, museums and places of interest rich in culture and history and, last but not least, a culinary tradition spread throughout Italy and that has a lot to offer. Visiting will be a unique, immersive experience made all the more complete and fulfilling if you can find the time to do a little bit of everything, from sightseeing, to taking part in celebrations, festivals and art exhibitions, to tasting true Italian cuisine.
You can do that by dining out in restaurants and local trattorie, or you can go to the source, visiting the places where certain dishes, ingredients and produce are made and processed before they’re served at your table, with interesting workshops and tasting experiences.
When you decide to visit Apulia, or Puglia in Italian, there are a lot of things to take into consideration – what to see, which cities to visit, what to try, taste and experience while you’re here, and so on. One of the local productions throughout Puglia is olive oil, so there are many chances for you to visit the best oil mills in the region (and the country) and see first-hand how the oil is made, where and with what results, no matter the city you choose to spend your holiday in. Important oil mills can be found near Taranto, Bari and other major cities of the region and all of them are known for producing EVO oil of the highest quality. Visiting the mills is the best way to find oil to purchase and sample directly from those who have been producing it for generations in a pure, unadulterated way that will surely turn your holiday to Puglia into an immersive experience.
Olive oil production is an Italian tradition, the country being one of the main producers of oil in the world, second only to Spain, and while there are many regions in Italy where extra virgin olive oil is produced, Puglia earns the spot as the biggest producer. Here are some of the best oil mills in Apulia where you can discover this tradition – by visiting the groves, buildings, production line and shops where olives are elevated to the rank of EVO oil.

Frantoio di Palma

oilv eoil tour
oilve oil tour

The Frantoio Oleario di Palma, an oil mill established in 1936 and located in Canosa di Puglia, prides itself for the production of what they call their “yellow gold”, the extra virgin olive oil they obtained with a traditional cold-extraction method, the same the di Palma family has always employed to grind the olives. The method allows the final product to maintain its properties, texture, taste and aroma. The oil mill can be visited all year-round and during the period from November to January visitors can witness the production of the extra virgin olive oil. Directions to the mill can be found on the website www.frantoiodipalma.it.

Frantoio D’Erchie

Located in Montemesola, a city near Taranto, this oil mill finds its roots and inspiration in the very region that hosts it, and the olive groves that grow here. The raw olives are the muses and protagonists for the EVO Olio D’Erchie and the mill pays homage to the local artisanal tradition with ceramic bottles and containers for the oils it produces. Oil milling is a family tradition for this company, established in 1932 by the current owner’s grandfather, Ciro D’Erchie, and the Frantoio D’Erchie now offers a wide variety of oils. Contact information on the website www.olioderchie.com/contatti.

Frantoio Galantino

The Frantoio Galantino was established in 1926 and has grown ever since, sourcing its olives from the family olive groves and other trusted partners of the area to achieve the purest cold-pressed EVO oil of the highest quality. Located in Bisceglie, the Galantino brand includes the oil mill, a shop and a restaurant (closed on Tuesdays, open for lunch Mon-Sun and for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays). The oil mill offers tours and tastings in Italian, English and French and tourists can witness the production process and ask for an additional meal following their visit. A pamphlet and booking information can be found at www.galantino.it/visits/?lang=en.

Frantoio Bitetti.

 

Located in Ginosa, near Taranto, the Frantoio Bitetti is a family owned oil mill with a three-generation tradition of oil making that merges old and new techniques and technologies to achieve a high-quality EVO oil through cold-pressing of the finest olives harvested from November to January. The mill offers guided tours where visitors will see the production process, from harvest to bottling, and will have a chance to taste samples and purchase the oil, which comes in the classic extra virgin format as well as naturally infused oils (lemon, rosemary and chili pepper oil). More info can be requested and tours can be booked on the mill’s contact page www.frantoiobitetti.it/Contatti.aspx.

Heading to Lecce? Here Are The Best Places According to The Locals

Piazza del Duomo - Lecce, Italy - Travel photography

Lecce is a great city in Apulia that you can visit or stay at during your holidays. The city has a lot to offer in the way of historical and artistic attractions, such as churches, Roman ruins, the Castle of Charles V and museums to discover the past and present of this beautiful destination. It also has many other little gems for you to unveil, and you can live a truly immersive experience in Apulia through the local, traditional food and activities that you can engage in while you’re here.
Staying in Lecce means you’ll have the chance to visit this incredible city while also being close by to many other wonderful sights of Salento. You’ll be able to reach beaches, hot springs, cathedrals and more, and the best way to tour Salento is through car rental. The various cities and towns scattered along the coast are not always connected through a reliable and intuitive public transport system and the experience could get complicated and unnecessarily uncomfortable, especially when the alternative of going by car is a much better choice. The lack of severe traffic (unlike that found in Northern Italian cities) will ensure you’ll make your way to your destination faster, and every attraction as sufficient parking space to accommodate tourists.
The best time of the year to visit Salento is the beginning or ending of the high season. Come to Salento in May/June, or during September/October to find a more relaxed and quiet atmosphere. Without hordes of other tourists swarming the beaches and sights, you’ll have more space and time to fully enjoy everything Salento has to offer, both in the way of nature (such as Otranto and Sana Cesarea), as well as what concerns the hinterland, further from the seaside, where you can find great spots (like the city of Lecce itself).

 

Must See in Salento

Salento has a lot to offer and the choice is wide, since every mile of beach hides treasures, and every corner of Apulia has the potential to be a vacation spot full of great things to see and do. Since you’re probably not going to be able to visit every little place on your way up and down Salento, here are some ideas on what to visit during your stay. Don’t forget that behind every little town or beach is hidden a great opportunity to find interesting and scenic locations, restaurants and places to relax – Use the internet freely on the go to look for the best rated eateries and spots for an extra little adventure as you visit the following main sights. Sometimes, getting lost is a blessing, when it enables you to find hidden gems!

Otranto

 

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In the city of Otranto you won’t just find the spectacular Aragonese Castle, but also the Cathedral, dating back to 1088. The altar is surrounded by the remains of the 800 Martyrs of Otranto, making for a truly impressive sight.

Lecce

We’ve already mentioned the many beautiful places that you can visit while in Lecce, but the most important and historically relevant feature of the city would have to be its churches. The Duomo, Lecce’s Cathedral is the most eye-catching feature of the city square, with a 70-metre high bell tower.

Galatina

In Galatina you will find many interesting buildings and tourist sites to visit, bot religious and of historical relevance, but the most beautiful is the Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, build at the end of the 1300s. While you’re busy in the city touring the sights, stop by a bakery or ask for the local signature dessert at a restaurant: the pasticciotto, a baked pastry with custard filling you’re sure to love!

Santa Cesarea

Come to Santa Cesarea to enjoy the sea and to take part in something unique: the thermal baths, with various facilities. The city was built on hot springs and here you can enjoy different cosmetic and therapeutic services.

Porto Cesareo

Visit this town if you love nature, for you will find a natural reserve, a marine reserve and many wonderful beaches to enjoy. Clear waters, rocky and sandy shores and many picturesque spots await you in Porto Cesareo. Don’t forget to enjoy some incredible fish dishes and seafood while you’re here.

Castro

South of Lecce, you will find the town of Castro and its many natural sights. You can enjoy the beautiful sea nearby and the natural areas and rock formations. The Grotta Zinzulusa is the most relevant in the area among other minor cave complexes near Castro, and it consists of three rooms filled with stunning stalactites, stalagmites and rocky walls that for their shape will remind the visitor of laundry on a clothesline with the sun filtering from the nooks and spaces between them.

Vicino Poesia

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