3. Italy
  4. Sicily

Trapni Salt Pans - Sicily

Located close to Trapini, the Nubia Salt Pans are about an hour from Palermo. In Sicily, salt extraction dates back at least from the time of the Greeks and Romans. With the stone edged waterways and striking windmills this was one of the most fascinating stops in all of Sicily. Just off the coast is a tiny community where a simple museum contains many of the tools used for processing salt and old parts of outdated windmills. Climbing to the top I was able to capture photos of the lone worker and the shallow ponds. Our adorable Fiat 500 took us everywhere!
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  • The Trapini Salt pans are all lined with stone.

    The Trapini Salt pans are all lined with stone.

  • The adorable Fiat 500 took us everywhere.

    The adorable Fiat 500 took us everywhere.

  • A small car can go down narrow streets and over salt pan roads.

    A small car can go down narrow streets and over salt pan roads.

  • It was windy but not cold.

    It was windy but not cold.

  • Water from the salt pans was moved by windmils.

    Water from the salt pans was moved by windmils.

  • Even though they are no longer working, these windmills still have great character.

    Even though they are no longer working, these windmills still have great character.

  • Men scrape the salt and send it to the shore via conveyorbelt.

    Men scrape the salt and send it to the shore via conveyorbelt.

  • They still scrape the salt by hand...

    They still scrape the salt by hand...

  • and put it into wheel barrows.

    and put it into wheel barrows.

  • Now the water moves much faster by modern pumps.

    Now the water moves much faster by modern pumps.

  • In the distance I could see what is left of a tile covered windmill.

    In the distance I could see what is left of a tile covered windmill.

  • It was a bit hot and Janice had to watch her dress!

    It was a bit hot and Janice had to watch her dress!

  • Walking along the stone walls.

    Walking along the stone walls.

  • ... "The Salt Street"..

    ... "The Salt Street"..

  • A salt station where two windmills were located.

    A salt station where two windmills were located.

  • We climbed to the top of the windmill on the right...

    We climbed to the top of the windmill on the right...

  • Gates are small and made from special cut wood.

    Gates are small and made from special cut wood.

  • A reconditioned windmill.

    A reconditioned windmill.

  • Its beauty stands the test of time.

    Its beauty stands the test of time.

  • By the visitor center was the first windmill we saw.

    By the visitor center was the first windmill we saw.

  • Sometimes boats are better than cars.

    Sometimes boats are better than cars.

  • The salt had rusted off half the bike's handlebar.

    The salt had rusted off half the bike's handlebar.

  • Waterway to the salt compound.

    Waterway to the salt compound.

  • This bridge had string for hand rails!

    This bridge had string for hand rails!

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    By the visitor center was the first windmill we saw.
    Sometimes boats are better than cars.
    The salt had rusted off half the bike's handlebar.