Windmills, pink pools and white salt pyramids at sunset
Along the coast between Trapani and Marsala stretches one of the most fascinating landscapes in Sicily: a chequerboard of shallow salt pans where sea water evaporates in the sun and wind, dotted with windmills that once pumped the water and ground the salt. Depending on the season and the concentration of salt, the pools turn every shade from blue to pink.
The area is protected by the Riserva delle Saline di Trapani e Paceco and, further south, by the Riserva dello Stagnone di Marsala. In summer, during the harvest, the salt workers pile the salt in white pyramids covered with terracotta tiles. Flamingos, herons and many other birds stop in the pools during migration. Some mills house small museums of salt, such as the Mulino Infersa and the Museo del Sale at Nubia.
Tip: the most spectacular moment is sunset, when the pools reflect the sky; the salt of Trapani is a Slow Food presidium and makes a perfect souvenir.
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