On the outskirts of Florence, a maximum security prison exists: The Sollicciano Prison. Its design was inspired by the Lily of Florence, a heraldic symbol of the city. The exterior of the prison is intended for sports activities, while the complex, which includes a judicial, administrative and penal branch, is distributed in buildings with concave curved wings interspersed with gardens. Quite surprisingly, the prisoners themselves are in charge of taking care of the gardens.
The aim of ensuring that the prisoners themselves are responsible for maintaining the gardens is the result of a project aimed at rehabilitating them, which was inspired by one of the noblest and oldest families in Italy. The prison has the privilege of having a hundred centenary olive trees within its garden,which are carefully harvested every autumn and processed in the Castello di Nipozzano. This is a centenary castle on the outskirts of Florence owned by the Frescobaldis, an aristocratic family with properties in Tuscany, who have dedicated themselves to the world of eleotechnics and oenology going back to the 13th century.
The castle, which is surrounded by vineyards, has a small winery and olive oil mill where the 300 bottles of oil from Sollicciano are made. As a gift, some of the bottles were delivered to its most illustrious customers such as Pope Francis, the President of Italy and his Prime Minister.
The Frescobaldis, who have similar projects in other Italian prisons, believe that the objective is to revive the passion in the prisoners and to get them back on their feet working again. The rate of recidivism of crimes has decreased by 60% thanks to projects like this. Therefore, this noble family, in addition to providing the necessary technical service to teach prisoners the art of EVOO production and how one must take care of the crop,have planted 200 additional olive trees in the garden of the Sollicciano prison, ensuring that the crops and production of this truly unique EVOO is assured.
The olive tree, along with its precious EVOO, is once again a symbol of peace, tranquility and the path to prosperity.