Overview
The western Liguria region dedicates more than one exhibition tribute to its millenary olive and olive oil civilisation, but the best known is in Oneglia, not far from the central Piazza Dante. Eighteen rooms to visit in about an hour - in addition to the garden among plants, jars and ancient olive presses - begin with a fossil of an olive tree millions of years old, continue with a botanical overview, the reconstruction of the historical course of the crop from Syria and Palestine to beyond the Pillars of Hercules, the recognition of the intrinsic benefits of the Mediterranean diet, the cosmetic side of possible uses and a review of production and commercial techniques, concluding with the collection of oil cruets and oil lamps assembled over the decades by the Carli family. The availability of an audio guide helps the visit, and the museum is organised so as not to exclude the visually impaired and blind.
Further inland, in salita Garzini 5, the Museo della Comunicazione - Voci nell'etere (Museum of Communication - Voices in the ether) is the result of a passionate collection of memorabilia - vintage radios and small radios, phonographs, antennas, tape recorders and, of course, telephones of all ages - ranging from Marconi's early experiments to the debut of digital.
