A cultural heritage of thousands of years
The olive plant is known to have been cultivated for about 7,000 years, but its origins are believed to date from the Oligocene period, about 20 to 40 million years ago. The olive plant – its fruit, leaves and branches – is omnipresent in mythology and lore, particularly in the Mediterranean regions. One of humanity’s earliest legends, the Great Flood, features the olive plant: in the biblical version, Noah dispatches birds to see if the waters have receded. When a dove finally returns, holding a branch from an olive tree in its beak, the Ark’s passengers know that they can once again live upon dry land. For this reason, the olive branch came to symbolize peace.
In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena was the guardian of the olive tree, even presenting Zeus with one of these beautiful plants. The olive tree was so important to the ancient Greeks that it was protected by law. And these are just a few of the stories about olive trees.
The Aegean Region, Türkiye
The Aegean Region, included among Europe’s olive routes by the Council of Europe, is experiencing a golden era in olive cultivation and olive oil production in Türkiye. Following yield declines across Europe, Türkiye’s strategic importance in the global supply has grown even stronger. If you are setting out in pursuit of the olive, starting in Türkiye is undoubtedly one of the best decisions you can make. When olives are mentioned, most people think of roughly the same geography. Thanks to its climate, the Aegean Region has become a homeland for exceptional olives and one of the places where the heart of olive culture beats strongest. The provinces with the most intensive olive production in the region are Aydın, İzmir, and Muğla, all known for their flavorful olives and high-quality olive oils. Balıkesir, whose lands span both the Marmara and Aegean regions, is also among Türkiye’s key olive-producing centers. Ayvalık, a district of Balıkesir, stands out as one of the most important hubs, where olive cultivation is the dominant agricultural activity. As a result, the quality of olives and olive oil in Ayvalık is truly remarkable. When planning your olive route, consider making Ayvalık one of the highlights of your journey.
Similarly, İzmir, the pearl of the Aegean, is regarded as one of the most important centers of olive and olive oil production in Türkiye. In recent years, Urla, now included in the Michelin Guide and especially recognized for Michelin Green Star-awarded sustainable chef restaurants, has become a globally known “farm-to-table” gastronomy hub. For those who wish to follow the olive trail, Urla offers an excellent starting point. By tracing the route from Çeşme through Urla, Seferihisar, Güzelbahçe, Menderes, and Selçuk, you can experience modern interpretations of olive oil on Michelin-starred plates and continue your olive journey through İzmir.
Another holiday haven, Muğla plays a significant role in olive production, particularly through Milas. The olives and olive oils from Milas, which hold European Union geographical indication status, are renowned for their exceptional quality. If you wish to create an alternative travel route in Muğla, you can explore Milas, follow the olive trail, and savor dishes prepared with its distinctive olives and olive oils.
The Mediterranean Region, Türkiye
As you travel south from the Aegean toward the warm Mediterranean breezes, you encounter one of the olive’s purest and oldest stories. In recent years, the Mediterranean belt has risen to prominence along Türkiye’s gastronomic routes, standing not only as a production center but almost as the “genetic memory” of the olive.
The first stop on this route is Tarsus. Here, you are greeted by the region’s endemic pride, the carefully preserved Tarsus Sarıulak olive. Its flesh is rich, its pit small, and its aroma so distinctive that a single taste of the oil it produces reminds you why it is called “liquid gold.” Sarıulak is not merely a food; it is a living testament to Tarsus’s thousands of years of agricultural heritage. If you would like to learn more about this ancient city while you are there, you can read our article titled Tarsus: The city where legends meet culinary delights.
As you continue your journey east toward Hatay, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and a legend in the culinary world, you witness how the olive becomes a way of life. The “Halhalı” olives grown in Hatay’s fertile lands and the traditionally prepared cracked olives brought to the table without chemical processing are among the most distinctive flavors of breakfast.
Andalusia, Spain
There are so many reasons to plan a vacation in Spain, but here’s another: in addition to standing out for its cultural heritage and vibrant cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, Spain is also the world’s leading producer of olives and olive oil.
The Andalusia region of Spain is one of these olive-producing regions – in fact, it is known as the “Olive Capital of the World”. You can easily start your tour of the Andalusia region from Malaga, a historic city on the Costa del Sol, known for its gorgeous beaches.
California, USA
From the Mediterranean region, olive plants were brought to other areas of the world with similar climates. One of these is the state of California, in the United States, where olive production began in the late 18th century. To discover the story of the olive in North America, consider starting your road trip in one of the state’s global hubs for summer tourism, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Beni Mellal and Agadir, Morocco
Back in the Mediterranean region, we come to Morocco, where olive production has constituted an important part of the economy since the Roman era. Like the Greeks, the Romans valued the olive and encouraged its cultivation in suitable areas throughout their empire, such as North Africa and southern Europe.
If you are considering an olive tour in Morocco, Marrakech is a great place to start. The city has two centers for olive tourism, one in the northeast and the other in the southwest. To add sea, sand, and sun to your holiday plan, you can begin in Agadir, in the southwest. If mountain air seems more appealing, Beni Mellal, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, is an ideal starting point. Both cities are about a four-hour drive from Marrakech.
Crete, Greece
Almost every region in Greece celebrates its olives but some stand out more than others. In terms of both production and culture, Crete is one of Greece’s most significant olive centers, with a 7,000-year tradition of olive cultivation. At the intersection of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, this Greek island also offers history and beautiful nature. You can fly into Athen’s Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, pick up your rental car and take the ferry to Crete. Enjoy your island road trip – along with spectacular Cretan olives and olive oil!
Puglia and Tuscany, Italy
The Roman Empire was influential in spreading olive cultivation throughout the Mediterranean and Europe and, of course, Italy now grows around 300,000 tons of olives annually. The country is also responsible for a quarter of the world’s olive oil production.
Nearly 70 percent of Italy’s olive and olive oil production is in the Puglia region, which corresponds to the “heel of the boot”. You can begin your southern Italian Olive Route from Bari. Fly to Bari, pick up your rental car and get ready to discover this beautiful country from south to north – the Tuscany region is known for the quality rather than the quantity of its olive production and many sources agree that the best quality olive oil is produced in the Tuscany region. While in Tuscany, you can visit Florence, the capital of the Renaissance. Olive and olive oil tasting tours are organized in both the Puglia and Tuscany regions each year.
A holiday of healthy eating with the benefits of olives
Light, yet filling, olive oil dishes and salads are often recommended for a healthy diet. You can enjoy plenty of these healthy and delicious meals, while enriching your Olive Route travels with each region’s natural beauties and historical and cultural sites – with Turkish Airlines Holidays.
