In the very heart of Sierra Morena, the municipality of Hornachuelos (Córdoba) preserves a millennia-old bond with olive oil. It is not only a gastronomic or agricultural tradition, but a legacy that goes back to Antiquity and remains very much alive in local culture today.
An oil destined for Rome.
During the Roman period, the province of Baetica was one of the great olive oil–producing centers of the Empire. From the fields of Córdoba, the oil traveled along the Guadalquivir River to Hispalis (present-day Seville) and from there was shipped to Rome. Its quality made it a highly valued product, used not only in cooking but also in medicine, cosmetics, and even as fuel for lamps.
The amphora that spoke in verse.
In 2023, an archaeological discovery brought Hornachuelos back into the spotlight: a fragment of an amphora bearing hand-inscribed verses from Virgil’s Georgics. The text, written nearly two thousand years ago, is the first known example found on an oil container. Who wrote it? Perhaps a literate worker, an apprentice in the workshop, or even a child. Whoever it was, their gesture turns this piece into a unique testament to the cultural and economic importance of olive oil in Roman Baetica.
- To learn more about this news: A poem by Virgil appears in Hornachuelos (Córdoba) on a Roman oil amphora made 1,800 years ago.
From history to education.
Today, initiatives such as those of our Cañada Verde Nature Center recover this heritage through workshops and educational activities that bring both children and adults closer to the artisanal process of oil production. From discovering the fruit in the field to seeing how it is transformed into a golden liquid full of aromas, these experiences not only transmit knowledge but also pride in a heritage that has shaped the identity of the entire region.
In these activities, participants take part in a hands-on workshop on olive oil production using a small traditional olive mill. The process includes observing, handling, and grinding the olives, as well as extracting the oil through simple procedures adapted to the group.
During the workshops, the origin of olive oil, its traditional uses, and its nutritional properties are explained. Special emphasis is placed on the value of the wild olive tree within the Mediterranean ecosystem and its sustainable use, as well as on its historical, cultural, and local traditional importance. Students also learn about the history of pottery workshops through the remains of an oil amphora from Roman Baetica, manufactured around 1,800 years ago (found in a recent excavation in Hornachuelos), which bears an inscription of a poem by Virgil from 29 BC.
- To learn more about this activity: OLIVE OIL PRODUCTION WORKSHOP – Cañada Verde
A Living Legacy.
Olive oil from Córdoba is much more than a food product: it is history, culture, and collective memory. In places like Hornachuelos, every drop tells a story that began thousands of years ago and that we are still writing today.
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