The local oil from the Cooperative Oleificio Guardea is made exclusively from the olives of the cooperative’s members, it becomes an authentic expression of quality and tradition. This product is not only the fruit of agricultural labor, but also represents the passion and care that each member devotes to their olive groves.
The Cooperative, as the custodian of ancient knowledge, becomes the beating heart of a community that unites around a common goal: to preserve and enhance a product that tells the story of the territory.
The olive groves, mostly located in hilly areas that offer stunning views of the Teverina valley, are the result of a deep love for the Umbrian landscape, where the silence of the sun-drenched countryside is interrupted only by the rustling of leaves and the sound of branches moved by the wind.
The care of the abandoned olive groves, in particular, is a gesture of reconciliation with the land, a rebirth that brings with it respect for traditions and a desire to pass on to future generations the value of a unique agricultural heritage.
The silence that permeates these places is not only the absence of noise, but a silence that invites reflection on the depth of this product’s historical roots. Each drop of oil tells of toil, but also of love for the land, for the landscape that returns each year to offer its fruits, and for the community that is committed to its care.
The Hermitage of Santa Illuminata and the olive groves
The area where theHermitage of Santa Illuminata is located, not far from the town of Guardea, is surrounded by a landscape of olive groves.
An ancient hermitage dating back to the 11th century is located here; they attribute the foundation to St. Romuald in the 11th century, who dedicated it to St. Illuminata, his fellow citizen. After 200 years from its founding, with the crisis of the monastic orders, the monastery of Santa Illuminata was ceded to the nascent order of St. Francis.
St. Francis stayed here several times, sleeping on top of a travertine boulder, which still bears an inscription to testify and which became a place of pilgrimage, in fact it is very smooth to the touch: sick people would lie on the travertine bed to obtain the grace of healing. Many disciples of the saint lived here, among them Blessed Pascuccio-patron of Guardea-who died there in 1485.
The area was once connected by an ancient road that joined Guardea to Alviano, and today, with its historical charm, it traces a connection between past and present, like a path that continues to tell stories of travelers, saints and farmers.
Around theHermitage of Santa Illuminata, olive groves are the protagonists of a landscape that is perfectly intertwined with the spirituality of the place.
This area, dotted with olive groves, becomes the symbol of a perfect combination of nature, tradition and culture.
The olive trees, growing in the rich and fertile soil, bear witness to a centuries-old history that lives on through the daily work of the cooperative. Each tree tells of the members’ hard work, meticulous care of the fruit, and love of the land, all encapsulated in an oil that carries with it the authenticity of our region.
The idea of celebrating the Hermitage with an extra virgin olive oil that comes from this land combines the sacred and the profane in a beautiful message of continuity. Oil, in fact, as a product of the land surrounding the hermitage, becomes not only a food, but also a symbol of connection between man and nature.
Our extra virgin oil, a tribute to the hermitage of Santa Illuminata
The Hermitage, our extra virgin is really a perfect tribute to a place as rich in spirituality and history as the Hermitage of Santa Illuminata, which represents the deep soul of our land. The idea of associating oil with this mystical place, where St. Francis stopped to pray, underscores the link between the sacredness of nature and the dedication of agricultural work, work that is never only physical, but also spiritual.
The extra virgin olive oil we produce, with its light fruitiness and delicate hint of green almond, seems to reflect the purity and simplicity of the place that gives it its name.
The lightness of taste, with the bitterness and spiciness coming through only slightly, makes it extremely versatile and balanced, just like the balance between labor and nature that characterizes our Cooperative‘s approach.
The pairings-white and red meats, fish, shellfish, vegetables-are the perfect expression of an oil that lends itself to enhancing every dish without ever overpowering, but accompanying every flavor with delicacy and harmony. An oil that manages to represent Umbria with elegance and refinement.
Pride for the past, challenge for the present and commitment for the future are values that can be transmitted not only through the product, but also through experiences and stories that make people understand the deep value of what the Guardea Cooperative does every day.
