The witch’s olive tree: ancient mysteries in Maremma

Olives, cypresses and vines are what characterizes the Tuscan hilly landscape. But the olive tree that lies just outside the walls of Magliano in Tuscany (Grosseto), the delightful Maremma village, is truly special. Do you know how old it is? It seems to be 3,500 years old and is therefore even older than the one in Gethsemane. Even its size is a record - just think that the trunk has a circumference of 8 metres and a half and reaches 10 metres of height. It is said that under its branches the whole philharmonic orchestra of the village of Magliano - composed of 40 musicians – once gathered and performed in an unforgettable concert.

This special olive tree, whose branches have seen centuries go by, carries a load of mysteries made of legends and stories to give you the shivers. It is no accident, in fact, that it is called the witch's olive tree! Why? It seems that a witch chose it for sabbatical rituals on Fridays. Legend has it that she danced around and that by trying to follow her movements the tree assumed the twisted appearance that characterizes it. But there is more! At the end of the ritual the witch turned into a huge fire-eyed cat that remained nearby to watch over the magnificent plant! There are also other versions that tell that all the witches of Maremma gathered around this olive tree in the night of San Giovanni with fauns and centaurs and celebrated the summer solstice.

The dark stories that mix reality, fantasy and superstition are always tremendously fascinating. If you are passionate about surreal and noir atmospheres, about the occult and inexplicable phenomena, then you must absolutely take part in our scary Florence tour. Our guides will lead you to an obscure land: the land of mysteries and ghosts that hide in the wonderful Tuscan city. It will be an unforgettable experience, an alternative way to discover Florence, to pick up less well-known but tremendously captivating aspects that will also get your kids interested. A perfect activity for the whole family and an extra reason to organize your holiday in Tuscany.