Pre-industrial olive oil mills

Both olive tree  and olive oil are closely connected to Cretan mythology, history, tradition, religion and art, as well as social and economic life of Cretan people dating back 9.000 years. We visited two pre-industrial olive mills in the Crete-Chania region, and we would like to share with you the experience, the mood and some of their knowledge. But about all the we like share our respect to the Greek tradition in the olive oil production which lays back to the centuries.

Here are some pictures from this amazing journey in time and culture.

Oil mills of St. George’s at Karydi, Crete

During the 19^th century the metochion of the Monastery of Holy Trinity at St George flourished due to the increasement of its property.  Its agricultural character is indicated by the existence of two olive-presses. 

The smaller one is single spaced with pairs of arches, and is dated in the last period of the Venetian Occupation (17^th century). 

The most recent one was built in 1863. It is a double spaced building, the western part of which is the main one. 

This part bears 12 arches, while four olive-presses of the modern type with more than one millstones, are preserved there. All the olive presses were pulled by animals.

 two doors to the storehouse

stone basin outside the oil mill

 This olive mill is surrounded by olive and orange groves

Oil mill of Gravalochori, Crete

This Oil mill is dated in the Venetian period (17^th century). It is a double spaced building by two pair of arches.

In this part are the monolithic base of the old type mill with four millstones on a build base, pulled by animals. 

In the other part is preserved the metallic olive press with stone basin dated from the late 19^th early 20^th century. 

George Gkekas | Brand & Business Development manager

info: local sources

All photography credits: George Gkekas