With great participation and intense interest, the 8th Olive and Olive Oil Festival “The Roads of the Olive Tree”, organized every year by the Gargaliani Women’s Educational Association, took place in Gargaliani, Messinia, on August 7th and 8th. This year’s event was a meeting point for culture, gastronomy and tradition, highlighting the importance of the olive tree for the local identity and economy.
On the afternoon of Thursday, August 7th, in the courtyard of the Briskeio Library, an art workshop for children on the theme of the olive tree was held. This was followed by the keynote speech of the Associate Professor of the University of West Attica and President of the Peloponnese Tourism Organization, Mr. Konstantinos Marinakos, on the topic of “Exploring olive tourism in the Peloponnese”.
In his presentation, Mr. Marinakos emphasized that “there is an interactive relationship between the preservation of the cultural heritage of the olive tree and its tourism development”, noting that the tourist exploitation of the product can be a strong incentive for investments in cultural heritage areas. He also underlined the need for:
close cooperation between private companies,
effective coordination between public bodies,
creation of collaborative structures (clusters) that unite olive growers, olive mills, tour operators, tourism businesses, research institutions and cultural organizations.
“I would like to warmly thank the active President of the Gargalianoi Cultural Association, Ms. Eleni Tsangari, and all the members of the Association for the invitation to participate as a keynote speaker. I congratulate them for their dynamic actions aimed at the cultural upgrading and development prospects of the region,” he said characteristically.
The first day concluded with rich olive oil dishes, offered by the members of the Association, which impressed the audience with their variety and taste.
The festival continued on Friday, August 8, with music and dance, reviving local customs and offering an authentic cultural spectacle to visitors.
The events were attended, among others, by the Deputy Governor of the Regional Government of Messinia, Mr. Stathis Anastasopoulos, the former Mayor of Trifylia, Mr. Takis Katsivelas, the advisor of the Development of Messinia, Mr. Yiannis Adraktas, as well as representatives of organizations and local communities.
The 8th Olive and Olive Oil Festival confirmed for another year its role as an institution promoting the olive tree and olive oil not only as an agricultural product, but also as a cultural and tourist resource with significant development potential for the Peloponnese.
Dining and Cooking