"Since Roman times the cultivation of olive trees and the production of olive oil in Liguria became one of the most important sources of wealth in this area. Through the centuries the demand of olive oil increased steadily and Ligurian people had to rely on the capability of the Benedictine monks who lived in Taggia. Since 1050 the Benedictine monks had organised the cultivation of olive trees in Ligurian valleys following two routes: turning the steeps sides of the hills into terraced plots and creating the famous Taggiasca olives after a long work of selecting and grafting."

(from "Ligurian Cuisine")