Solana Ston

What if I told you the salt on your dinner table holds a story stretching back over 4,000 years? Here at Solana Ston, the oldest saltworks in Europe and possibly the world, that story comes to life. Solana Ston dates back to the Roman times. It whispers tales of Illyrians, Greeks, and Romans who first recognized the value of this unique location. In 1333, Solana Ston became an integral part of the Dubrovnik Republic. Salt from these very pans brought in a third of the Republic’s income. Its significance is echoed in the majestic walls of Ston, built in the 14th and 15th centuries to protect this precious resource. The walls, mirroring those of Dubrovnik, stand as a testament to the salt’s importance. The Republic even built two planned towns, Ston and Mali Ston, connected by a mile-long wall, to safeguard the peninsula and its valuable commodity. Solana Ston is made up of 58 pools divided into 5 groups. The salt production happens in five stages. These stages can last from one to two months. Nine of these pools are dedicated to crystallization. Each pool, except for Mundo (meaning “world”), bears the name of a saint. Imagine workers carefully guiding seawater through the various pools, harnessing the power of sun, sea, and wind. The traditional methods remain unchanged, a testament to the timeless nature of this craft. During harvest time, everyone in Ston and the surrounding areas participated, highlighting the salt’s vital role in their lives. The peak year was 1611, when Solana Ston generated an impressive 15,900 gold ducats. Even today, Solana Ston continues to produce around 500 tons of salt annually. It isn’t just a saltworks. It’s a living museum. It preserves a medieval tradition and offers a glimpse into a world where salt was not just a seasoning, but a source of wealth and power.