Visit the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta

Written by Greek Boston in About Sparta, Greece, Greek Travel Guide Comments Off on Visit the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta

When visiting the ancient city of Sparta, Greece, you will want to take in the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil. The story of Sparta is very rich, and it has many facets. This museum gives you a glimpse into the world of the olive and olive tree so that you can learn about its culture and history. Here’s more information:

About the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil

Located in Sparta, the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil takes visitors on a journey through the history, culture, and technology of olives and the production of olive oil. The aim of the museum is to share the important relation of the olive with the identity of Greece. At the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil the olives and olive oil are presented according to the economy, uses of olives, nutrition, art and technology, and religious worship.

What to Do When You Visit the Museum

When you visit the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil you will see rare fossilized olive leaves that are 50-60,000 years old and came from Santorini. These are the oldest pieces of proof of the presence of olive trees in Greece. There are exact replicas of 14th century BC linear B tablets, which give the first testimonies of the olive and olive oil.

On the ground floor of the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil you will learn about the evolution of the technology used to produce olive oil starting from the ancient times to now. You will view exact replicas of Prehistoric, Hellenistic, and Byzantine olive presses, an olive press from the island of Lefkada dating to the 20th century, models that represent how engine-powered olive presses function, and a wooden double press with a winch that came from the nearby village of Xirokambi.

At the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil there are examples of ancient and contemporary art that show how the olive was, and still is, a source of inspiration for Greek artists. You will also see how the olive became a symbol in mythology, religion, and the manners and customs of Greeks.

You will be taken through each historical period and learn how the olive and olive oil played a role in the economy and every day life of the Greeks. This includes uses that are now outdated, such as using olives for lighting.

Children will enjoy the museum as well. They can look at the three old olive presses as well as large animated models that represent mechanically driven olive presses, which include: a water-powered olive press, a steam-powered olive press, and a diesel-powered olive press.

Getting to the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil

You can get to Sparta by taking a ferry to the port of Gythio, Sparta can be reached by car from Athens in three hours. Once in Sparta, you can get around on foot as it doesn’t cover a large area. If you get tired walking, you can take a taxi, which isn’t expensive around Sparta. The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil is located at 129 Othonos Amalias Street.

While in Sparta, you should consider stopping in on the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil to learn about this aspect of Greek history and culture.

Categorized in: About Sparta, Greece, Greek Travel Guide

This post was written by Greek Boston