This is the last of the 144 small saltpans existing before salt production was turned into industrial in 1959. At that time, all small saltpans were unified to form big collection and evaporation basins. Nowadays, “Camillone” Saltpan is the only small saltpan left and an integral part of the salt museum. Salt is still extracted but for demonstration only, that is to make visitors understand the salt workers’ hard work. The site seasonal production can range in between 500 and 2,000 hundredweights.
Today as in the past, the whole saltpan production is still handcrafted, using wooden tools and ancient methods.
During visits, salt workers show visitors their work and also explain them why Cervia’s salt is known as being “sweet”. As a matter of fact, it does not contain any bitter salts which, thanks to the local climate and to the daily salt collection, do not have a chance to deposit.