The olive press in Pitrofos, known as “vida,” occupies the ground floor, or “katogi,” of a two-story stone building on Andros, in the Aegean Islands. This olive press is a remarkable example of a small, pre-industrial, animal-powered olive oil production unit.
The facades and interior stonework have been beautifully restored by the owner, Dimitris Chelmis, a civil engineer, who preserved all the original structural elements typical of Cycladic rural architecture.
Unlike most olive presses on Andros, where production was confined to a single space, this one was divided into separate rooms for the various stages. Three millstones, two stone milling slabs, and other structural details indicate the press was operational long before the 18th century, with some elements dating back more than 400 years.
Cyclades Olive Oil Museum, Aegean Islands
- Traditional Olive Press Museum: Explore the beautifully preserved ‘vida’ olive press in Pitrofos and learn about traditional olive oil production methods used in the Cyclades for centuries
- Cycladic Olive Heritage: Discover the extraordinary role of olive oil in Cycladic culture and how this stone-building olive press tradition reflects the agricultural wisdom of the Aegean islands
- Olive Oil Tasting: Taste exceptional Cycladic olive oil and connect the museum’s historical narrative with the living olive oil culture of the Aegean islands
The owner, Dimitris Chelmis, guides visitors through the museum, explaining each stage of olive oil production: the animal-powered milling, the ingenious pressing mechanism, and the storage room. The various qualities of olive oil are clearly explained, giving visitors a deeper understanding of what to look for when purchasing olive oil.
In the cool, 400-year-old “katogi” storage area, visitors can watch a video showcasing the animal-powered olive oil production that took place in 2000 using the authentic equipment. The Cyclades Olive Oil Museum has been recognized as one of the top 10 attractions in Greece and makes an ideal stop when planning hiking routes on Andros. Explore more Aegean Islands experiences through Gastronomy Tours.
