Old Mill on the road of salt by Hermolaos

An ancient history - The exploitation of the coastal area between Trapani and Marsala dates back to the time of the Phoenicians, who, realizing the extremely favorable conditions, we planted tanks to extract the salt, then exported throughout the Mediterranean basin. Here begins the systematic exploitation of this portion of land, watered by shallow waters and is often characterized by high temperatures and weather conditions (first of all the wind that promotes evaporation) particularly suited to the extraction of this precious element, which is essential to human life. One of the fundamental properties of salt is its power to preserve food, a characteristic known to the ancients, who used it for storage and processing of perishable products. From the Phoenicians, however, on its way to the Normans to have some news of the salt pans of Trapani. Frederick II, and is the same that the cites in the Constitutions of Memphis, making a crown monopoly. The port of Trapani in this way increases its importance. Highs and lows alternate in the economic history of the salt that increase or decrease depending on events occurring in the territory: wars, epidemics, the transition from one domain to another affect the production and trade of salt as in any other field . But the area is so profitable and activity, and that is why it has continued, although at jolts, to the present day. The salt, therefore, continues to be extracted, even if the methods used (and fatigue) have changed and the process is mechanized. Do not use more than the mills so characteristic of the landscape and also the work of men is less harsh. via 500px http://ift.tt/1pjnElP