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Park of the Salt Pan in Cervia
Cervia, a renowned seaside resort situated along the Adriatic Coast, retains ancient origins. It was first conquered by Greek colonists and the documents which mentioned it with its previous name, Ficocle, date back to the Vth century, while starting from the VIIIth century it was appointed the city of the salt.
The ancient settlement was situated inside the salt-pan and corresponds to the current archaeological site of Prato della Rosa. The migration to the East took place in 1697, according to a papal decree which ordered it after a drastic decimation caused by malaria.
The new city of Cervia was built for the 150 families of workers who were employed in the salt-pan; new houses situated near the two large salt stores were built just outside the city walls.
Along the ancient via Bova, which connected the ancient city with the new one, is the visitor centre of the Salt Pan of Cervia, established in 2004 to provide information about the history, the jobs and the naturalistic aspects of the Salt Pan of Cervia, which was first appointed independent Natural Reserve and then annexed to the Regional Park of the Po Delta.
Guided tours follow three different itineraries to suit all the visitors' needs.
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The naturalistic itinerary, to be covered on foot or by boat, involves the crossing of the salt-pan under the supervision of ethologists and expert naturalists to admire beautiful species of animals and charming landscapes; it is an incredible attraction due to the presence of a lush vegetation and the great concentration of birds such as flamingos, stilt plovers, sheldrakes, avocets and other species which nest or winter in the protected oasis of Cervia.
The so-called productive itinerary is to be covered by boat during the hot season, when salt crystals settle in the charming rosy salty basins.
The third itinerary, the historic one, starts from the Torre Salt Store, the most important seventeenth-century example of the industry from Romagna, where the Salt Museum (MUSA), rich in documents, tools and pictures from the ancient salt-pan of Cervia, has been mounted; the excursion can be completed by bike, crossing the old town of both Cervia nuova and Cervia Vecchia to discover the evidences of the ancient Ficocle.
Not to be missed is the visit of the Camillone Salt Pan, the latest example of craft management based on multiple collection. It is under the protection of Slow Food for the extraordinary quality of its "sweet salt" which salters continue to produce according to the ancient millenary system.
Park of the Salt Pan of Cervia srl - via Salara, 6 - 48015 Cervia (RA) - Tel. 0544.971765 - Fax 0544.978016
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