Graceful olive groves - Colli Fontanelle

In the olive gardens, the year is almost over and the highlight of the year has arrived: it's harvest time. Time to give a review and a bit of information on the history of the olive groves.

The olive trees on the Sorrento Peninsula were introduced here by the ancient Greek settlers, who developed them from grafting. Now the olive fruits that developed from tiny creamy blossoms in early March have turned ripe. In late autumn, olive trees hang full with them and nets are put under the trees that wait for November when the main part of the harvest takes place and olives will be collected. 

Olive trees, terraced gardens, lush green orchards

When you go up the slopes of the Sorrento Peninsula, towards Colli Fontanelle, you will notice the thick dark-green terraced gardens stocked with olive groves.

The olive variant growing here is Penisola Sorrentina DOP, as straw-colored, yellow oil, very aromatic and reminiscent of the scents and tastes of garden herbs such as rosemary and mint. 

Tasting the Sorrento olive oil, than can be enriched with lemons and herbs like basil, thyme and even peperoncino

This Olio Extravergine di Oliva Penisola Sorrentina DOP is being grown in 13 towns and villages dotting the Peninsula and on Capri, by 4000 olivicoltori, on an area corresponding to 1,500 hectares (75% of the olive trees growing in the Provincia di Napoli). The communities are Gragnano, Pimonte, Casola, Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento, Meta, Sant'Agnello, Massa Lubrense, Vico Equense, Capri, Anacapri and Castellamare di Stabia. 

You can click here for informative reading and colorful pictures on the olive harvest, with Capri in view, at Piano di Sorrento. This article "Sapori di Casa Nostra" was posted by Positano My Life, a very colorful blog giving insights on life in Positano.

Silver-green olive trees mingle with orchards and pines, chestnuts on the Sorrento Peninsula