Category: Civil Architecture > Olive Press
District: Évora > Vila Viçosa > Vila Viçosa > Nossa Senhora da Conceição e São Bartolomeu
The Old Olive Mill of the Vila Viçosa Olive Growers' Cooperative is located in the town of Vila Viçosa, within the parish of Nossa Senhora da Conceição e São Bartolomeu, at the heart of the municipality of Vila Viçosa, in the district of Évora. Its location points to an area deeply connected to agricultural activity, characteristic of the Alentejo landscape, where extensive cork oak forests (montados) and olive groves are defining elements. This building is integrated into the town's urban fabric, maintaining the sobriety and functionality typical of structures dedicated to production.
This old olive mill represents a fundamental landmark in the history of olive oil production in Vila Viçosa and the surrounding region. Once a vibrant center of local economic activity, it bears witness to the effort and dedication of olive growers who, over generations, transformed olives into liquid gold. Its existence underscores the importance of cooperative agriculture and the olive oil sector for the subsistence and development of Alentejo communities, preserving the ancestral techniques and knowledge associated with this process.
More than just a simple building, this olive mill is a living testament to the evolution of olive oil production methods. Although it may have incorporated technological advancements over time, it retains the essence of manual labor and tradition that characterized the extraction of olive oil, a product of choice in Portuguese diet and culture.
The architecture of the Old Olive Mill reflects its industrial function, featuring a robust and pragmatic construction, typical of Alentejo's utilitarian civil architecture. Its walls, often whitewashed masonry, and its volume assert themselves in the surrounding environment, denoting the solidity required to house heavy machinery and to withstand the intense work rhythm of the olive harvest campaign. The interior spaces would have been designed to optimize the production process, from the reception of olives to the storage of olive oil, with areas dedicated to milling, pressing, and decantation.
The simplicity of its lines and the use of local materials lend the building a harmonious integration into the Alentejo landscape, revealing the aesthetic of functionality. Observing the structure of this old olive mill allows one to understand the logic of workflows and the ingenious adaptation of spaces for transforming a fruit into an essential food.
Visiting the Old Olive Mill of the Vila Viçosa Olive Growers' Cooperative is to delve into a fundamental part of Alentejo's identity. Olive oil, as a product, transcends its nutritional function, acting as an ambassador for the region's culture, landscape, and way of life. This place evokes the labor, rituals, and experiences of a community that united around the olive harvest and transformation, elements intrinsic to Alentejo's intangible heritage.
Even if its operation has ceased, the atmosphere emanating from the building transports the visitor to a past where the scent of fresh olives and freshly extracted olive oil would have filled the air. It is an invitation to reflect on the resilience and inventiveness of the local people, who knew how to harness natural resources to create wealth and preserve secular traditions.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.77678629172558,-7.419713993038918
Coordinates DMS: 38°46'36.4"N 07°25'11.0"W
Weather Vila Viçosa
On-duty Pharmacy Vila Viçosa
