The saltworks or “Le Saline” of Trapani and Marsala have been exploited since Phoenician times (c. 800 BC). The shallow salty waters, high temperatures, and arid winds make for excellent conditions for harvesting salt from the sea. For centuries, windmills mechanized the process of cultivating and processing the salt that is exported to kitchens throughout the world. The mounds on the left side of the photo are piles of salt that have been covered with “Roman” tiles in order to protect the drying salt from heavy downpours and other elements.