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“S’Ortu Mannu” (“The Big Garden”) is an ancient olive grove about 1.86 miles from the town of Villamassargia, in the province of Carbonia – Iglesias. It lies at the foot of Gioiosa Guardia castle.

This place became a park in 2001 and currently covers some 30 acres, although it was originally some 1.235-acre wide. The wood is almost entirely made of monumental specimens of olive trees (Olea europaea and Olea europea “olivaster”). Thanks to the peculiar characteristics of the olive tree, long-lived, quite resistant, and well-accustomed to dry soils, it is now possible to count about 700 centuries-old specimens, planted between 1300 and 1600, with large gnarled trunks and majestic foliage. The oldest specimen is called “Sa Reina” (“The Queen”) and some scholars acknowledge it as the largest in the entire Mediterranean Basin.
With a 52.5-ft circumference, it is considered a real “monument of nature” for its grandeur and historical importance. It also symbolizes a strong link between the territory and the population; in fact, after the recent appointment of the Municipality of Villamassargia as the current managing body of S’Ortu Mannu, each local olive tree has been “entrusted” for 99 years to its respective local “owner”. Therefore, almost every resident family is responsible for one tree specimen, as clearly stated with letters on the trunk – the initials of the head of the family.

“S’Ortu Mannu” also hosts the traditional event that takes place every last Sunday in October, in Villamassargia: the Olive Festival. That’s the perfect time to visit the park and appreciate the highly prized oil produced in the area.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)