Tirana is home to some of Albania’s most remarkable ancient olive trees. Research by olive specialists Hairi Ismaili and colleagues has identified exceptionally old olive trees in the Tirana area, including in Tujan, Petrela, Tufina, Lanabregas and other locations. The study estimated some of the oldest trees at between 2,500 and more than 3,000 years old, with the greatest concentration of the ancient trees identified in the Tirana area.

These trees are more than agricultural resources. They are part of the cultural landscape of Tirana and connect today’s rural communities with the ancient history of the territory. Many of the oldest trees are located close to archaeological remains, castles and historic settlements, creating an opportunity to connect nature, agriculture, archaeology and living heritage.

This is the starting point for a new Olive Oil Heritage Route around Tirana.

The route currently developed in Marikaj can also be adapted to other areas with important olive heritage, including Petrelë and Persqop, Tujan, and Ndroq.

The idea is not simply to visit an olive farm. Each itinerary combines four elements:

Ancient olive trees → historical landscape → traditional olive-oil production → local gastronomy

1. Ancient olive trees and the landscape

The experience begins with a visit to an old olive grove and an explanation of the relationship between olive cultivation and the history of the area. Visitors can learn how olive trees can survive for centuries and, in some cases, for millennia. Some of the ancient Albanian olives have extraordinary multi-trunk formations, making them living witnesses of changing landscapes and generations of human activity. Depending on the itinerary, the ancient olives can be connected with nearby historical or archaeological sites — for example, Petrelë and Persqop, Tujan, or the historical landscape around Ndroq.

This allows the guide to tell a broader story: the olive tree is not isolated from history; it is part of the cultural landscape in which communities have lived, farmed and traded for centuries.

2. The history of olive cultivation and trade

Olive cultivation has a long tradition in the Tirana region. In Marikaj and the surrounding area, historical sources are associated with the production and trade of olive oil. Accounts referring to the 17th and 18th centuries indicate that olive oil from the region was traded towards Venice and the territories associated with Saint Mark. The story of olive oil therefore becomes a story not only of agriculture, but also of trade, local communities and connections between Tirana and the wider Mediterranean.

3. From the olive to the oil

The experience continues with a visit to a local olive-oil mill, where visitors can learn how olives are harvested, transported and processed. In Marikaj, the family mill works not only with olives from its own groves but also processes olives brought by farmers from the surrounding area. While in Ndroq you can see the old way of producing olive oil, since the Family of Tre Miqte has preserved all the artizanal tools and stones for producing the olive oil.

Visitors can learn about: local olive varieties; harvesting and pruning; how the quality of the fruit affects the oil; traditional and modern processing; the characteristics of extra virgin olive oil; and the importance of correct storage. The production process makes the connection between the ancient olive landscape and the modern agricultural economy visible.

4. Olive oil as a local tourism product

The Marikaj experience also demonstrates how an agricultural product can become a tourism attraction. The family business has developed a range of products based around olive oil and local natural resources, including infused olive oils, herbal products, olive-oil soaps, dried herbs and traditional teas, as well as olive-wood souvenirs. This creates a broader visitor experience in which the olive is presented not only as a food product, but as part of the identity and economy of the local community.

5. Olive oil tasting and local gastronomy

The experience concludes with an olive oil tasting, introducing visitors to some of the basic characteristics of good-quality extra virgin olive oil and helping them understand how to taste and evaluate it. The tasting can be combined with local products and traditional dishes, including byrek with locally collected wild herbs, bread, seasonal vegetables, herbal teas and other products of the area. The aim is to show visitors how olive oil is connected to everyday Albanian food culture.

From agriculture to rural tourism

The Marikaj experience provides a model that could be adapted to other olive-growing areas around Tirana. Rather than developing a single standard tour, the proposed approach is to create a network of complementary Olive Oil Heritage Routes, each based on the particular character of its landscape.

Marikaj – ancient olives, olive-oil production, family business and gastronomy, Petrelë–Persqop – ancient olives combined with the castle and archaeological landscape, Tujan – ancient olive heritage combined with the historical and natural landscape, Ndroq – olive heritage, traditional production and local gastronomy

Each route can therefore tell a different story while sharing the same central theme: The olive tree as living heritage — from ancient landscapes to today’s table. The objective is to create an authentic rural tourism experience that benefits local farmers and businesses while helping visitors understand one of the most enduring elements of Albania’s agricultural and culinary heritage.