Every autumn, the people of Umbria reach for their rakes and head for the hills. There they come together for an ancestral ritual: the olive harvest. For centuries this was papal territory and, fittingly, this is a rite of self-sacrifice and resurrection. The olives are collected by sweaty hand, using those rakes to shake down bunches at a time; then they are transfigured into a sacred nectar.

Here the harvest isn’t just about preparing for the year ahead; it’s a bonding event where families work together to create something unique. After the toil comes joy: a picnic under the centuries-old trees. It’s the creation of community — and it all starts with a simple rake.