San Lorenzo Olive Grove – A Legacy of Centuries-Old Olive Cultivation
Olive growing in Fažana dates back at least 2,000 years. Thanks to its high nutritional value and rich taste, olive oil was one of the most prized commodities in ancient times, placing Fažana on the Adriatic trade map.
This is confirmed by archaeological findings of ancient oil mills, ports, villae rusticae, and amphora workshops throughout the Fažana area. But even more remarkable is the fact that this very site proves the continuity of olive cultivation through the centuries.
The San Lorenzo olive grove, named after the nearby church, was once the property of Bishop Ivan Dominik Juras of Pula (1742–1802). The grove was home to hundreds of olive trees of various cultivars, including the resilient Buža, the autochthonous Rosinjola, the generous Moražola, and the rare Smartel—a variety mentioned in ancient sources.
Fun fact: Some of the oldest olive trees in this grove are over 400 years old! Research has even revealed the presence of previously unrecorded varieties.
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