Age: 1 year
Plants 1 new Olive tree
CO2 absorbed: 150 kg/year
Evo oil included:
Introduction – The Underground Oil Mills of Salento
Hidden underground, where no one would ever imagine them to be, places have been built where people can work undisturbed: we’re talking about the underground oil mills of Salento.
Carved into the rock, these underground oil mills are also known as“trappeti.” This name was first used by the Romans and derives from the Latin“trappetus,” which referred specifically to the machinery used for pressing olives.
Salento is a region rich in underground olive oil mills.
These are magical places steeped in history and culture, which form a fundamental part of the ancient art of olive oil production in the Apulia region.
The climate of Salento has always been ideal for growing olive trees, and since ancient times, the people of Salento have learned to appreciate and harness the potential of olives to produce a high-quality oil.
Underground Oil Mills in the History of Salento
The underground oil mills of Salento are carved directly into the rock, several meters below the surface.
But when were they built?
They were built on the ruins of granaries from the Messapian era because, in the 9th century, contact with the Byzantines led to a shift from wheat production to olive oil production.
The underground setting ensured the oil’s preservation and provided a degree of privacy for the team of workers, who lived in the oil mill throughout the production season, working nonstop for several months.
This particular type of oil mill is unique in Italy, and Salento is one of the few regions where they can still be seen.
Why were they born underground?
There were three main reasons why the underground oil mills were hidden beneath the ground:
1. AWAY FROM PRYING EYES
This secluded spot allowed them to work undisturbed, out of sight of their enemies. Our grandparents and great-grandparents were very superstitious, and working without prying eyes watching them made them feel more at ease.
2. STORING OIL
The stable temperature of the underground environment was certainly one of the main reasons why our ancestors chose to build oil mills: they provided an ideal place to store the highly prized oil.
3. A PLACE TO WORK AND LIVE
The underground oil mills also served as a home throughout the olive harvest and pressing season: to devote themselves entirely to their work, many families—or, at times, just the workers—chose to move there and leave only once oil production was finished.
The Underground Oil Mills of Salento: Charming Places to Visit
Visiting an underground oil mill is definitely a chance to immerse yourself in the history of a place—an alternative itinerary compared to the usual tourist spots.
So we’d like to recommend a few underground oil mills you can visit here in Salento—they’ll take you on a journey back in time!
- The “Olio Turi” Company’s Underground Oil Mill in Martano
- “Scupola” Underground Olive Press in Specchia
- Underground oil mills open to visitors in Presicce, also known as “the city of underground oil mills” due to the large number of such mills in the area. Among the best known are: the “Mezzapesa” Underground Oil Mill, the “Montanaro” Underground Oil Mill, and the “Santoro” Underground Oil Mill
- “Caffa” Underground Olive Press in Vernole
- The “Palazzo Granafei” Oil Mill in Gallipoli
- Underground Olive Oil Mill in Largo Madonna delle Grazie, Carpignano Salentino
- “Trappitello Del Duca” Underground Olive Press in Giurdignano
- “Massarone Macurano” Underground Oil Mill and Archaeological Site (Rock-Cut Settlement) in Alessano
- The Underground Oil Mill on Via Trieste in Tuglie
Now that we’ve suggested some of the most beautiful underground oil mills in Salento, you can start traveling back in time—even if only in your imagination!
