The Oldest Olive Groves in Europe

Olive oil from the ancient Sabina region is rich in history. Augustus’ agronomists selected this territory to plant thousands of trees and build mills and amphorae factories for the conservation, packaging, and transportation of the olive oil known as the ‘Gold of Rome.’ The olives were picked according to criteria that are still followed today, including the reading of weather cues, lunar phases, and plant cycles. Sabina olive groves have been around since before Rome's existence. They are home for several important people, including the second and third emperors of Rome, and symbolize the beginning of the spiritual journey undertaken by St. Francis of Assisi. The first region in Europe to cultivate olive oil, Sabina houses Europe's oldest and largest olive tree, known as “Ulivone.” For the Sabina people, it was never the prominent ancient masterpieces that gave them their strength and longevity – it was the land on which they relied. Today, Italian family cultivators produce Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) out of love, passion, and tradition. Libellula is designed both to establish a profitable solution to the dying practice of family olive oil cultivation and to create a successful new business model that respects and protects the historic countryside. Our EVOO is produced following the strictest Sabina D.O.P. (Protected Designation of Origin) guidelines. We are Rome, and with your adoption, we offer you a piece of Rome. In that piece you receive the most sophisticated, and still undiscovered, history of Rome.