Three Times Around the Old Olive Tree
by John Fisher (Assisted by AI)
In May 2025, my wife and I took a trip to Bar, Montenegro, and stumbled upon something truly special—the Old Olive Tree of Mirovica. This isn’t just any tree. It’s a massive, ancient olive tree that locals say is over 2,250 years old. That’s right—this tree was already growing when the Romans were still figuring things out.
They call it “Stara Maslina na Mirovici”, and it’s been protected by law since 1957 because of its history, size, and importance to the area. Its trunk is huge—about 7.8 meters around—and the branches stretch out wide enough to shade an area as big as a small house (111 square meters, if you like numbers). Scientists even checked its age with fancy tree-ring methods, and yep, it’s ancient.
But the real magic of this tree isn’t just in how old or big it is. It’s in the stories people tell about it. The locals see it as a guardian, a nurturer, even a mother. They believe people have been healed under its branches. That fights have ended here. That couples who made promises of love beneath its leaves stayed together forever.
There’s a local custom tied to it too. Folks say if you walk around the tree three times—once for love, once for health, and once for luck—good things will follow.
So, my wife and I gave it a try. We walked three full circles around that old olive tree, and I know this may sound a little corny—but ever since then, our love feels stronger, our health has gotten better, and our luck hasn’t run out.
It was one of the simplest but most meaningful moments of our whole trip. If you ever find yourself in Bar, take the time to visit. Walk slow. Listen to the wind in the branches. And maybe, just maybe, take those three steps around.
Want to visit?
📍 GPS: N 42.080164, E 19.129400
📷 Instagram & YouTube: @kucamaslinabar
#OldOliveTree #MontenegroAdventure #LocalTraditions #TreeOfLove #BarWonders
No comments:
Post a Comment