Cyprus’s ancient olive trees: A living link to the island’s past

Across the landscapes of Cyprus, olive trees stand as some of the oldest living beings in Europe, many over 2,000 years old. Their weathered trunks twist into incredible shapes, revealing centuries of resilience through drought, invasions, and changing civilizations. These ancient trees aren’t just relics; they are living monuments that have silently witnessed the island’s entire history.

While modern agriculture has evolved, many Cypriot villages continue to harvest olives from these ancient groves using traditional, time-honored methods. Families gather each autumn to lay nets beneath the branches, gently hand-picking or combing the olives so the trees — some older than the villages themselves, are never harmed. The result is oil that carries the flavor of both the land and its history, often produced in small stone-press mills that preserve the craft’s authenticity.

In a world moving rapidly toward automation, Cyprus’s olive culture remains deeply rooted in heritage and respect for nature. The longevity of the olive trees reflects the continuity of Cypriot life: slow, steady, and grounded in tradition. Walking through these groves feels like stepping into a living museum, where every tree tells a story and every harvest continues a ritual that has lasted millennia.

Today, these ancient groves are more than agricultural assets, they are symbols of identity. They remind locals and visitors alike that Cyprus is not just a place of beaches and sunshine, but a land where history grows quietly in the fields, bearing fruit year after year.