In 1572, the port of Trapani became the most important in Europe for the export of salt. With the Second World War, foreign competition and the construction of the new saltworks in Cagliari, the saltworks in Trapani were abandoned and filled in, making way for the construction of industrial buildings.
Thanks to the perseverance, determination and dedication of the last owners, the Sicilian Regional Government established a nature reserve, thereby saving the remaining salt pans from imminent destruction.
Even today, the salt pans of Trapani produce salt in the traditional way: it is harvested during the summer months and then dried.
I had the immense pleasure of visiting the latest restored mill, which stands out amidst these vast expanses of salt. The mill, the wildlife, the sunset over the salt pans, and the salt being dried and harvested all combine to make the sight of these salt pans a real feast for the eyes.
