The road from Trapani to Marsala goes around the edge of the Stagnone lagoon and the island of Mozia, providing fine views of the local saltworks: panels of mirror-like water, held by thin strips of earth, synchronise to form an irregular and multicoloured scene.
In certain spots, the profile of a windmill may be discende, a reminder of times past when they provided the main means of pumping the water and grinding the salt.
The sight is even more striking in summer when the salt is ready to be collected: at the time, the pinkish hues of the concentrated saline contained in the outer pans vie with those towards the centre of a deeper colour, while the innermost, now dry, sparkle in the sunshine.
Gabriella Ruggieri
(ph. courtesy: Nino Chirco, film and music producer)
