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OLEOTECA (Olive oil centre) |
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The Florentine Medici family stimulated olive growing in the Mugello by encouraging the sale of uncultivated hill pasture and woods to the Communes, and with the obligation that they be rented out at low prices to people prepared to make them into olive groves.
In tune with the olive-growing tradition in the area, Paolo Pasquali has spent much time and energy in recent years on the study of olive trees and olive oil, in their scientific, historical, sociocultural and culinary aspects. In the cellars of the villa the first ‘Oleoteca’ (olive oil centre) in Italy has been created, where we organize extra-virgin oil tasting courses with tours of the oil press for those interested in learning about the oil production process.
Our Oleoteca is in contact with numerous Italian and foreign universities which study the chemical and sensory properties of extra-virgin olive oil. Nutritionists have added to the knowledge of its health benefits and one of the latest discoveries was published in the September 2005 edition of ‘Nature’ by a group of American researchers. They demonstrate that extra-virgin olive oil contains a compound named ‘oleocanthal’, which has the same pharmacological properties as powerful anti-inflammatory drugs.
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