OLIVE TREE PATH: BIODIVERSITY AND LANDSCAPE
SANTA MARIA AL BAGNO (Lecce)
5th edition of Baroque Blue Se-Art Residency
September 19, 2026 – October 3, 2026
Curated by Dores Sacquegna
The unspoiled landscape of Salento is not only represented by the breathtaking beauty of its seaside marinas. The territory is characterized and coloured by expanses of monumental olive trees, a heritage of Puglia recognized throughout the world. The number of specimens in Puglia is estimated to be around ten million, and Salento is one of the most flourishing areas.
These are true living monuments that have defied the ravages of time, witnesses to our history, repositories of traditions and popular cultures, protagonists of fairy tales, myths, and legends, and a fundamental point of gathering, especially in the darkest moments. These ancient, magical, and enchanted trees have witnessed, recorded, and resisted wars, fires, earthquakes, diseases, climate change, and much more, often still capable of producing valuable oil products.
The story of the olive tree – which, according to tradition, grew on Adam’s tomb on Mount Tabor – is inextricably linked to that of Mediterranean civilization. Sacred to Athena (Minerva in the Roman world), the olive tree has its roots in human history and is intertwined with folk tales, mythology, and religion. Olive cultivation in Salento dates to the 7th century BC, probably introduced by the Phoenicians and consolidated over time by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. A symbol of biodiversity and landscape, Salento oil is known as “green gold” and represents thousands of years of knowledge, with around ten million olive trees, some of which are centuries old.
The oil mill was a fascinating place, underground and comparable to a ship, a sort of merchant vessel on which the crew worked from morning to night, and which sometimes even served as their home. Agronomy, ethnography, art, sacredness, and tradition converge in a single journey, that of Salento oil, the fruit of centuries-old olive trees, these giant guardians that preside over Italy’s easternmost peninsula. The starting point is the marina of SANTA MARIA AL BAGNO, a hamlet in the municipality of Nardò, one of the most beautiful places on the Ionian coast of Salento, just a few kilometers from Gallipoli. In this new project, we will discover “the green gold,” ancient paths from the Ionian Sea to Santa Maria di Leuca and real underground cities whose origins are lost in the mists of time and which offer spectacular landscapes steeped in history.
OLIVE TREE PATH is an experiential project of eco-symbolism and contemporary art dedicated to the symbolic and mythical aspects of the olive tree. Like ancient Nachri (sailor), You will embark on your journey following the routes that will lead them to discover your true Self. A sacred and profound journey to honour your roots and discover who you have been and who you are ready to become.
Primo Piano offers an authentic and refined experience in a community of international artists and curators. Every detail is designed to help you relax, rediscover yourself, and fully embrace the art of living well. A cultural, artistic, and spiritual awakening. A sacred and profound journey to honor your roots and discover who you have been and who you are ready to become.
What’s included:
- Accommodation in a villa near the sea
- Art supplies/equipment for working on site
- Guided tours by land and sea
- Explorations of the surrounding area
- Exceptional dinners with regional wines and oil
- Art Workshop
- Yoga and sacred feminine sessions.
- Final exhibition and much more!
Ask the media kit to find out more primopianoexhibition01@gmail.com or primopianorecidency@gmail.com
Application deadline: April 30, 2026
