THE SALT DEPOSITS IN SALINE DI VOLTERRA

   

The salt deposits in Saline

A non-stop production

The town of Saline di Volterra is named after the salt deposits it was built on, in Italian “salina”.
People in the middle Valdicecina have been extracting salt for the last 1000 years, which is present in the area because of the evaporite formations from the Messinian period. It is the most continuous and long-lasting mining production of the area, and it has gone through many changes in the extraction techniques throughout the years.
At first, the salt deposit would be put through a furnace powered by fascine, in order to then collect the evaporated salty water in 20/30-metres deep sinks.
Now, water is being pumped from the underground, which forms a brine that is then extracted. That’s when the processes of refining, evaporating and centrifugation take place.
In other places, for instance in the South of Germany, salt is extracted by quarrying salt blocks. That’s not possible in the Valdicecina, because our deposits are between 1 and 30 metres thick and they’re enclosed by clay.

OPENING HOURS AND TICKETS

Opening times Salt Factory

Friday
from 02:00 p.m. until 06:00 p.m.
Guided tours start every hour
(02:00 p.m. - 03:00 p.m. - 04:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m.)

Saturday and Sunday
from 10:00 a.m. until 01:00 p.m.
from 02:00 p.m. until 06:00 p.m.
Guided tours start every hour
(10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. -12:00 a.m. - 02:00 p.m. - 03:00 p.m. - 04:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m.)

Public holidays:
Easter 09th and and Easter Monday 10th April, 25th April, 1st May, 2nd June:
Guided tours start every hour
(10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. -12:00 a.m. - 02:00 p.m. - 03:00 p.m. - 04:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m.)

December:
Saturday 25th: CLOSED

Tickets

Adult: 7,00 €
Children from 5 to 14 years and Residents: 5,00 €
Children up to 4 years: free

Compulsory booking

Reservation and infos
info@volterratur.it
+39 0588 86099

Consorzio Turistico Volterra Valdicecina Valdera S.c.r.l.
Piazza dei Priori 19/20 - 56048 Volterra (PI) - PIVA 01308340502
Operation/Project allocated within the framework of the POR FESR Tuscany 2014-2020