Salt pans
Salt pans situated in Cervia and Milano Marittima are part of the protected natural Park of the delta of river Po: this is an interesting area for its plant and animal biodiversity. You will have the chance to observe species which belong exclusively to this biosphere, because it is the perfect place for the development of unique forms of life.
The area of Cervia has been widely known for salt refining since the ancient epochs, and several political conflicts had involved this area to take advantage of its “white treasure”. The plants of salt production are still in activity, while instructive tours are organised to discover this peculiar activity and give it the importance it deserves.
The ancient salt pan of Camillone
It is the last of the 144 little salt pans which had been in activity until 1959, when the production system became industrialized. As a part of the Museum of salt, it is still in activity to let the visitors know about the hard work of salt pan workers. It can produce from 500 to 2000 quintals of salt per season; here it is still produced in the traditional way, by using wooden tools and old methods. The salt pan workers explain the visitors how the salt is produced and describe all the peculiarities of the salt of Cervia; it is known as “sweet salt” because it is free from bitter salts, which do not deposit thanks to the climate and the daily collecting. Moreover the salt coming from this salt pan has been declared a Slow Food product since 2004.
Pinewood
The pinewood of Milano Marittima has an extension of 260 hectares and several sport courses and concerts in the refreshing atmosphere of this place are organized in summer. The landscape of rare beauty created by the imposing centuries-old pine trees let the visitors get into a very peculiar sensorial experience.
The pinewood of Cervia is a treasure of a great naturalistic relevance and offers the visitors moments of pleasure and magic.
The Butterflies House
This is a greenhouse of 500 square metres where the climate and habitat of rain forests have been reproduced to let hundreds of tropical butterflies live in here. Moreover a botanic course has been set up and a new pavilion dedicated to insects has been built up: bees, ants, ladybirds and a wide range of others species will let you into their ecosystem, full of unexpected surprises.
