Olive oil production, church art, and a green roadside landscape give Astrikas a variety of themes to explore. At BIOLEA, a tour combines insights into production methods with a guided tasting. Frescoes of the early Cretan school can be seen in the Church of Zoodochos Pigi. Along the road to Astrikas, olive groves, eucalyptus trees, and blooming gardens shape the landscape.

Olive Oil Production at BIOLEA

During the BIOLEA olive mill tour, visitors see and learn how olive oil is produced using a stone mill and cold pressing, as well as through modern cold extraction. Two specifically named production methods are therefore at the heart of the tour. The comparison focuses on the methods themselves and is especially suited to travelers interested in how a food product is made, not just in the finished product.

Four Oils in the Guided Tasting

The bookable tour includes a guided tasting of four award-winning olive oils, served in glasses. Biolea Stone Milled & Cold Pressed is made from the Koroneiki variety, while PAMAKO High Phenolic Mountain Extra Virgin is made from the Tsounati variety. The selection also includes Lemoni Flavored Olive Oil and Nerantzi Bitter Orange Flavored Olive Oil, two flavored oils. It comprises two oils identified by variety and two flavored varieties; the names of the latter point to lemon and bitter orange. This makes the differences between the four samples clear through their varieties and flavorings.

Frescoes and Landscape

In the Church of Zoodochos Pigi, high-quality frescoes attributed to the early Cretan school can be seen beneath the lime plaster. This art-historical connection adds a cultural dimension to Astrikas alongside olive oil production. For travelers interested in religious art, the combination of frescoes and the early Cretan school is a particularly specific local connection.

There is plenty of greenery along the road to Astrikas, including olive groves, eucalyptus trees, and blooming gardens. The groves, trees, and gardens are distinct elements of the landscape. The roadside scenery thus complements the olive mill and church art with another, independent perspective on Astrikas.

Include the Tour in Your Plans

The BIOLEA tour is available by appointment. As the guided tasting is part of the bookable tour, plan for both activities together. If production or tasting the four oils is a deciding factor for your trip, contact the provider in advance to request your preferred date. This allows you to account for the appointment-only activity when planning your trip.

The themes offer different points of interest: BIOLEA provides a specific activity centered on production and tasting, the frescoes offer an art-historical connection, and the road to Astrikas presents a scenic setting. When choosing, you can weigh these interests against one another without having to combine them into a fixed itinerary.

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