Conti Vecchi saltworks reopen to attract tourists

Assemini (Cagliari) - The tour of the Conti Vecchi saltworks at Assemini, in the province of Cagliari, is an immersion into the blinding whiteness of the salt mountains, surrounded by the shallow water of Santa Gilla lagoon. It is a scenic landscape which turns pink with the flamingos, and tells the story of the past 100 years in Sardinia. It is open to the public from Sunday 28 May, after a year of restorations sponsored by Fai-Fund for the Italian Environment.

The site promises, and delivers, a breathtaking, and at times crude, experience to visitors who will enter what, at the beginning of the past century, was a swampy and malaria-ridden area, on the outskirts of Cagliari. The central part of the compound, where the offices, the management and the workshop are located, takes visitors back in time to the 1930s. The curator of the refurbishment project, supported by Eni-Fai, Daniela Bruno, wanted to recreate that atmosphere by restoring original documents and pieces of furniture, including a calendar and workers' time clocks, adding some period decorations provided by an antique shop from Cagliari: "It is not meant to be a museum, but a place which takes you back into history. It is a strong experience with harsh contrasts but also extremely fascinating," said Ms. Bruno.

"I have a plan for Sardinia," said Luigi Conti Vecchi, in 1919. An engineer, born in Tuscany, a former director of the Reali Ferrovie Sarde, when he was about 70 years old and had come back from World War I earning the rank of general, he had an ambitious project in mind. He did not get to see it as he died in 1927, while the saltworks became operational in 1931. This story is told in a 20-minute video entitled "A misura di Sardegna" [Made for Sardinia] which visitors can see on the wall of the workshop. Today, during the opening ceremony, the ribbon was cut by his descendants.

Tomorrow, it will be open exclusively for the inhabitants of Capoterra and Assemini, while on Sunday it will open its doors to the public. Free entrance will always be granted to the inhabitants of Assemini, to Syndial and Ing Conti Vecchi SpA employees and members of Fai. All other visitors will need an entrance ticket. Opening hours vary according to the seasons of the year: until June 16, the site is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm - the last train to tour the saltworks will depart at 5pm. The compound includes a bookshop, cold and hot drinks, and ice-cream dispensers and free wi-fi. Dogs are not admitted in the saltworks natural area.