Salina Camillone

About the museum

The Salina Camillone is the only survivor of the 149 multi-harvest salt pans that existed in Cervia before the conversion of 1959, when mechanised processing was introduced. In the past it was numbered 89 and considered a small-to-medium salt pan, built on unstable ground because of the large amount of sand mixed with clay and the veins of fresh spring water.

Cervia’s salt pans, unlike other Italian salt works, were worked with a very ancient system attributed to the Roman period. During the salt season each pan was assigned to a salt worker (salinaro), who worked it with the help of the whole family, especially at harvest time. Being a salinaro was a true art, learned day by day by observing the movements of the water and the influence of the winds.

Today the salt pan is still in operation thanks to the Gruppo Culturale Civiltà Salinara, whose volunteers harvest salt by hand with the tools of old. From June to September, at the Camillone – the open-air section of the MUSA – Museo del Sale, the harvesting ritual is repeated, guided tours are organised, and visitors can try being a salt worker for a day. At the beginning of September the “Armesa de sel” recreates the transport of salt into the city on the burchielle (traditional flat-bottomed boats). The sweet salt of the Camillone has been a Slow Food presidium since 2004.

Highlights

• The only multi-harvest salt pan still active in Cervia
• Salt harvested by hand with traditional tools
• Guided tours by volunteers of the Gruppo Culturale Civiltà Salinara
• Cervia sweet salt, Slow Food presidium since 2004

Permanent exhibition

• Salina artigianale e raccolta del sale – Multi-harvest salt pan still in operation, where volunteers demonstrate the hand harvesting of Cervia’s sweet salt.

Operated by

Gruppo Culturale Civiltà Salinara (sezione all’aperto del MUSA – Comune di Cervia)

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

From June to September visitors can take part in the salt harvest and become “salinari per un giorno” (salt workers for a day).

Getting there & parking

The salt pan is located along the Salara Provinciale road, in Cervia; the meeting point for the visit is the Centro Visite della Salina di Cervia, Via Bova 61.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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