Volterra
Saline di Volterra: a salty history
Hello everyone! Today I'll tell you about Saline di Volterra, a hamlet in the Italian municipality of Volterra in the province of Pisa, Tuscany. The territory of Saline has historically been important due to the presence of saltwater springs, called "moie," which were exploited for the production of sodium chloride. It is said that already during Etruscan times, these wells were used, but the first historical news dates back to 981 when Otto II of Saxony called some salt workers from Volterra to Germany to teach the technique of salt processing to the inhabitants of Halle.
The municipal monopoly
Before the 13th century, the moie belonged to the bishop of Volterra, but then the municipality took over the exploitation rights of the sources, imposing a real monopoly. In 1472, the Saline were acquired by the municipality of Florence, which later returned them to the people of Volterra, conditioning their use to a heavy annual fee. Before the 17th century, most of the moie were closed, and the activity was concentrated in Saline di Volterra, where in 1636 the management was regulated through a treaty between the municipality of Volterra and the administration of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
The new establishments
In the 18th century, Grand Duke Leopold II of Habsburg-Lorraine decreed the construction of new establishments for the production of salt, a Church of Saints Peter and Leopold, and other related buildings. Thus was born the community of Saline di Volterra, where water from six wells was channeled into the salt pans named after Saint Leopold. The work was organized similarly to English industrialism.
The current situation
Over time, the production of Saline has decreased. In 1970, with the Italian Tobacco Company, the Saline employed 524 employees for the annual production of over a million quintals of salt. However, in the early 1990s, the employees amounted to around 180 units, with a production of about 800,000 quintals. During World War II, the Saline were destroyed, but production resumed during the reconstruction.
Monuments and places of interest
Today, the Saline di Volterra establishments represent the main tourist attraction in the locality. Of particular interest is the pavilion designed by Pier Luigi Nervi, which houses the Saltwater Cascade and is well worth a visit.
In summary, Saline di Volterra represents an Italian historical and cultural heritage, with great economic importance in the past. Today, it is possible to visit the establishments and appreciate their architectural beauty, as well as taste the high-quality salt produced on-site. Thank you for your attention!
