The Olive Harvest
Villa Cozzano, Castiglione del Lago PG, Italy
Autumn, 2021
During the quiet winter stillness of lockdown, a video surfaced on my Instagram feed that would change the course of my year. A 24-year-old Italian named Manuel Lazzerini, standing against the backdrop of his family’s centuries-old villa, spoke with urgency—his land, and the surrounding wetlands that stretched below it, were under threat. The regional government had set its sights on transforming the fragile ecosystem into a disposal factory. His plea wasn’t just for awareness; it was a call to action. His story inspired people to stand up for the land, to understand its worth as not a waste, but as history, as habitat, and as something worth protecting. His words struck a chord within me.
Villa Cozzano has been in Manuel's family since the 16th century, and his parents Manuela and Cristiano began a lengthy renovation back in 1996 and finished in 2013. Step by step they brought Cozzano back to life and opened its doors to guests from all over the world. Drawn by both his cause and the promise of a place so deeply tied to the past, I reached out to Manuel, offering my photography in exchange for room and board. He had created a work and travel program where in exchange for staying with his family, people could come and stay to help him from all over the world, myself being one of them. In October I arrived at Villa Cozzano, a breathtaking estate nestled on the border of Tuscany and Umbria. The expansive 75 acres surrounding the villa boast rolling hills, three vineyards, an olive grove, and panoramic vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. Manuel had big plans for Villa Cozzano, he envisioned hosting weddings and events, and above all else he would not settle or stop fighting for the protection his land and the surrounding lands at all costs.
pruning the olive trees
I spent my days working the land, documenting the rhythms of harvest and preservation, and witnessing the quiet resilience of a young man fighting to keep the history of the villa, intact. During the month and a half I was there, I lived and worked on the property along side Christopher Middeke from Switzerland, who was doing a similar work-away as myself. From him, I was learning the art of olive cultivation and experiencing firsthand the physical demands and rewards of this cherished tradition. From pruning the trees to handpicking olives, each day brought new challenges and joys. It was far more than just a stay for me—it was a lesson in stewardship, in the power of community, and in the weight of what we choose to leave behind. I just couldn't shake the feeling that I was in the right place at the right time.
Manuel, with unwavering determination, perpetuates a legacy of care for this land and property. Villa Cozzano stands as a testament to the enduring bond between humanity and the land, where the past, present, and future converge in a symphony of preservation and reverence. My time at Cozzano deepened my understanding of the harmony between humans and nature, leaving me with a grateful heart, and a story worth telling.
