Olival

The olival is the olive grove that defines much of southern Portugal. Portugal ranks among the top olive oil producers globally, with the Alentejo accounting for the majority of output. The groves range from ancient, gnarled trees to modern intensive plantations.

Traditional olivais feature widely spaced trees of native varieties like Galega, Cordovil, and Verdeal. The harvest takes place from November to January and remains a communal event in many villages.