A FEW KILOMETERS FROM CAGLIARI, LE SALINE CONTI VECCHI THEY REPRESENT A UNIQUE PLACE WHERE HUMAN INGENUITY IS INTERWERED WITH NATURAL WEALTH. THANKS TO THE COMMITMENT OF ITALIAN ENVIRONMENT FUND (FAI), THIS EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF INDUSTRIAL ARCHEOLOGY HAS BEEN ENHANCED TO TELL THE STORY OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. IMMERSED IN A LANDSCAPE DOMINATED BY THE SANTA GILLA POND AND POPULATED BY FLAMINGOS AND HERONS, TODAY THE SALINES ARE A SYMBOL OF INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, A PLACE TO DISCOVER BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE
Saline Conti Vecchi: history of an industrial innovation
In the late 1920s, the engineer Luigi Conti Vecchi conceived an interesting project to transform the Santa Gilla marshes, in southern Sardinia, into a production center of national importance. What was then an uncultivated area and a hotbed of malaria, difficult to inhabit and exploit, became one of the largest industrial salt pans on the island. Thanks to his far-sighted vision, the reclaimed lands were converted into a production complex that combined efficiency, self-sufficiency and innovation, anticipating modern concepts of sustainability and integrated resource management.
The saltworks infrastructure, designed to be a cutting-edge model, was not limited to the production ofwhite gold. The village of Macchiareddu was born next to the plants, a settlement designed to welcome workers and managers in an integrated and self-sufficient community. Equipped with housing, schools and recreational spaces, the village represented a rare example of attention to the social well-being of workers in an era when these issues were still little considered. Here we didn’t live just to work: we built a shared future, with a quality of life higher than the standards of the time.
Branch SIR to Width
In the following years, the complex went through phases of transformation and new industrial scenarios. In the 1970s, the saltworks came under the management of the Società Italiana Resine – SIR Rumianca (an Italian chemical company active in the production and processing of chemical products).
Later, in 1984, they were acquired by Eni, which launched recovery and redevelopment projects through its Eni Rewind division, specialized in the reclamation and sustainable management of industrial areas. This approach not only preserved the historic production of salt, but also contributed to the protection of the Santa Gilla pond, a fundamental ecosystem for the biodiversity and ecological stability of the area.
In 2017, the transfer of management to the Italian Environment Fund marked a turning point for the salt pans, transforming them into a place dedicated to historical memory, cultural dissemination and environmental sustainability. The FAI is in fact committed to recovering and making accessible the historic buildings of the site, preserving their integrity and original charm.
From FAI restoration and valorization
Thanks to accurate and meticulous restoration work, the Italian Environment Fund has returned symbolic buildings such as the Head Office, the Chemical Laboratory and the Workshop to their former splendor. Every detail has been carefully preserved: from the original machinery, which testifies to the ingenuity of the technologies of the time, to the period furnishings and equipment which tell the story of the daily lives of those who worked in this place. These historical environments are today transformed into immersive narrative paths, capable of projecting visitors back in time, to the 1930s, to fully understand the dynamics of a world made of innovation, dedication and sacrifice.
For those who want to live a unique experience, the dates of 17 and 24 November and 1 and 15 December represent an extraordinary opportunity. Over these days, the public will be able to immerse themselves in the history of this exceptional site, exploring spaces full of memory and surrounded by a landscape of rare beauty. Let’s start the journey.
The visit: between industrial archeology and natural beauty
The guided tour begins aboard an evocative train on rails, which crosses the salt basins: geometric expanses of water and salt that reflect the sky, giving rise to plays of light and colors that change as the day passes.
Continuing on foot, visitors can follow a dirt route of about two kilometers that leads to the village of Macchiareddu, once the vital hub of the salt community. Here, homes, schools and recreational facilities tell the story of the daily life of workers and managers who lived side by side, forming an integrated and supportive society. Each building retains the charm of a bygone era and offers an authentic insight into the working and social life of the time.
Tales of innovation and sacrifice
The visit is further enriched with an engaging video story, projected in the monumental Officina. This documentary retraces the salient stages of the construction of the plant, illustrating the innovative techniques used in the production of the precious mineral and the strategic importance of this resource for the economy and culture of Sardinia. The images, intertwined with testimonies and historical documents, offer a vivid picture of the fundamental role of the salt pans in the industrial context of the time. But the charm of this place does not end here.
An extraordinary environment: the flamingo oasis and the biodiversity of Santa Gilla
In addition to their inestimable historical and industrial value, the Saline Conti Vecchi are immersed in one of the most evocative natural contexts in Sardinia. Located in the Santa Gilla pond, one of the most important wetlands in Europe, these salt marshes offer a unique ecosystem. With an area of over 2,700 hectares they represent an ideal habitat for a surprising variety of flora and fauna. They are in fact a naturalistic oasis that is home to around 35 thousand aquatic birds, belonging to more than fifty different species. Among these, the undisputed protagonists are the pink flamingos, which with their delicate plumage and elegant movements give the landscape an almost dreamlike charm. Their flight at sunset, when the sky is tinged with warm colors that reflect on the stagnant waters, offers a visual experience of rare beauty.
Alongside the fauna, the vegetation of the salt marshes is equally peculiar. Halophilous plants (from the Greek “háls” (salt) and “phílos” (friend), “friends of salt”), such as salicornia, which thrive in brackish environments, form green expanses that contrast with the brilliant white of the salt and the bright pink flamingos. This flora not only contributes to the exceptional biodiversity of the area, but also plays an important role in maintaining the ecosystem. But let’s move on to some curiosities about the place.
A heritage of stories and legends
The Saline Conti Vecchi, with their salty expanses and timeless charm, are not just a site of industrial production, but a place steeped in stories and legends. According to popular narratives, in ancient times these lands were inhabited by nature spirits, magical entities that protected the waters and migratory birds. Pink flamingos, elegant inhabitants of the salt marshes, were often seen as guardians of these secrets, symbols of purity and harmony with the natural world. Even salt, for the ancients, had a sacred value: considered a gift from the earth and the sea, it was used not only to preserve food, but also in rituals and celebrations, as a symbol of prosperity and protection.
Ultimately, this area represents a bridge between past and present, between nature and culture. It is an example of how man can exploit the resources of the territory without destroying their balance, preserving an authentic and rare beauty.
A fabric of places and stories in southern Sardinia
The salt pans are not an isolated entity but an integral part of a rich mosaic that characterizes southern Sardinia. Nearby Cagliari, with its historic Castello district, archaeological museums and ancient churches, offers a unique cultural cross-section. Not far away is the Molentargius Natural Park, another habitat for flamingos and water birds, which testifies to the area’s ability to combine biodiversity and human activities.
Not far from the salt pans there are also the fascinating mines of Sulcis, which tell the story of man’s work and toil and the majestic nuraghi, symbols of the prehistoric civilization which makes the island unique in the Mediterranean. Between crystalline sea, wild mountains and thousand-year-old traditions, southern Sardinia presents itself as a territory where every corner tells a story.