What is the Olivo della Strega in Magliano?

The’Olivo della Strega, at Magliano in Toscana, is a monumental olive tree with a gnarled trunk, in the olive grove behind the church of the Santissima Annunziata. Its nickname comes from local legends: a witch is said to have danced around it, twisting its trunk, or to have turned herself into a cat. These are popular tales, not established historical facts.

It is often credited with being 3,000 to 3,500 years old, but this needs nuance: this estimate concerns the ancient part, now almost entirely dead. The still-living shoot, which produces olives, is said to be about 300 ans. The tree is protected by a fence; you can see it during a short stop, a few steps from the village, but it is not a museum or a guided tour. If you expect a fully living tree or to be able to approach the trunk freely, reality may be a bit disappointing: the interest lies mainly in its unusual appearance and the history the locals associate with it.