The salt pan: salt production

The first example of a sustainable industry

The salt pans are one of the most iconic and evocative landscapes of Sicily, known for their natural beauty, intense colors, and the ancient tradition of salt production.

The panorama is dominated by shallow water basins, embankments, canals, and historic windmills.

Salt extraction is still active and productive today, producing a product of the highest quality. “Trapani Sea Salt” is a PGI product, Protected Geographical Indication, appreciated for its integral and artisanal qualities.

Archimedes’ screw

It consists of a large helical screw, shaped like a spiral, enclosed inside an inclined tube.

Its purpose is to move a liquid from a lower level to a higher one.

It was used by hand for short periods or attached to the blades of the windmill to fill the basins.

Windmill and salt worker’s house

It was the operational base of the salt pan, serving as a storage area for equipment and hosting the salt worker and laborers during bad-weather days.

It was the place where, after harvesting, salt was processed, ground and packaged before being sold.

Today it has been transformed into the “Salt Museum”.

Other windmills are located near the “Fredde” basins to operate Archimedes’ screw.

Salt after harvesting

Immediately after harvesting, wet salt must be dried. For this reason, it is piled in the sun along the edge of the salting basin.

The summer heat is used for drying; when the rains arrive, the piles are covered with clay tiles to prevent the salt from dissolving again.

The salts of the salt pan

Production per m³

• Kg. 27.20 - Sodium Chloride
• Kg. 3.80 - Magnesium Chloride
• Kg. 1.65 - Magnesium Sulfate
• Kg. 1.25 - Calcium Sulfate
• Kg. 0.86 - Potassium Sulfate
• Kg. 0.12 - Calcium Carbonate
• Kg. 0.07 - Magnesium Bromide

Measuring salinity

Precipitated salts

• 3.5°
• 6°
• 8°
• 10°
• 13°
• 15°
• 18°
• 21°
• 26°

Density in Baumé degrees (°Bé)

• 32
• 53
• 89
• 107
• 135
• 167
• 205
• 244
• 315

Salinity (g/l)

The panel shows a salinity scale connected to Baumé degrees and precipitated salts.

Basins diagram

• 1 - “Fredde” basins
• 2 - Reticalsa
• 3 - Ruffiana
• 4 - Caura
• 5 - Casedda
• 6 - Windmill
• 7 - Archimedes’ screw
• 8 - Torre di Nubia

Basin levels

• Basins at sea level
• Basins above sea level