L’Olivone, a thousand-year-old olive tree located in Semproniano, è renowned for its incredible stature that once made it a true giant among trees. Harvesting olives from L’Olivone was almost a feat, as it required the use of three flights of stairs. Those who picked olives opted to remain suspended among the branches during lunch, avoiding the effort of descending.
Despite lightning damage that reduced its size, the Olivone still managed to reach an impressive height of 21 meters. However, in May 1998, the plant underwent another, even more devastating attack: one or more individuals deliberately caused the tree to catch fire by pouring gasoline inside the trunk and setting fire to the roots.
The tree was damaged by the lightning strike.
Despite the extensive damage sustained in the unfortunate incident, the Olivone has shown amazing resilience. Although now è considerably smaller in height, the tree has produced new suckers from its roots, continuing to live and produce olives. The story of the Olivone è a testament to the strength of nature in the face of adversity, which continues to thrive in the municipality of Semproniano.
