Sale e saline nella Sicilia sud orientale

From ancient times to the modern age, salt production has always been a primary or additional resource which in coastal zones has allowed the maintenance of an economy in otherwise marginal areas. The coastal wetlands, the retro-dunal lagoons, entering into communication with the sea, both naturally and artificially, were suitable for the production of the appreciated coastal salt. The south-eastern coast of Sicily is dotted with retro-dunal marshes: therefore, the environment is particularly suited to the production of fine salt. Saltpans and literary and cartographic sources attest it for the modern age; while Roman writers praise the high quality of the salt produced in this area. The historical reconstruction of arrangement of the ancient territory allows to restore dignity to this product and its economical value, which constituted an asset in itself and was also accessory to the other productions of this area sicilian: salted tuna and purple dye.