Meetings, cultural encounters, exhibitions, markets and shows: from today to Sunday the city of Cervia celebrates the ancient tradition of the remittance of salt, transport that takes place today as then, on a "burchiella" pulled along the banks of the canal, from the salt pans up to the warehouses
The Rimessa del Sale, in Romagna dialect "Armesa de Sel", is the central moment of the Festival Sapore di Sale in Cervia.
Historically, the Rimessa del Sale originates from the festivities that the salt workers set up at the end of the hard working season, in the month of September. It was a moment of collective joy that saw the salt workers as absolute protagonists with their families: long lines of burchielle, the flat-bottomed boats used to transport the salt, moved from the salt pans to the warehouses and here they stopped to check and storage of the precious commodity, in fact called "white gold".
The festival attracted many inhabitants of the neighboring villages, but also important personalities who did not want to miss this rite, as we know of the Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg and the Archduchess Maria Beatrice, who took part in the festival in 1792.
With Sapore di Sale, Cervia intends to enhance its origins and the ancient art of producing salt. The historical re-enactment of the Rimessa del Sale is an event of memory around which the festival dedicated to the Sweet Salt of Cervia revolves, a product of excellence and a Slow Food presidium since 2004.
On Saturday afternoon, the burchiella arrives along the canal, from the salt pans to the warehouses - skilfully guided and pulled with ropes by the salt workers - with a load of 100 quintals of salt which are then distributed to the public, always very numerous, in an offer wish you luck and prosperity. On Sunday afternoon, only the free salt distribution phase is repeated.
From the past of the ancient City of Salt, the re-enactment of the historic Salt Store offers the rediscovery of ancient crafts and flavors linked to white gold and its tradition through a festival full of convivial moments. Although today it is one of the most common ingredients on our table, once upon a time salt was so rare and precious as to be called "white gold", as it was a fundamental element for food preservation. It is therefore easy to imagine the indissoluble link between Cervia and this product and its more than 800 hectares of salt marshes. The purpose of the traditional Cervese Salt Festival is precisely to remember one's past and "dedicate" a party to salt, recalling past traditions and proposing various themed initiatives. It starts from the inevitable historical re-enactment of the "Rimessa del Sale", continuing with the rediscovery of ancient crafts and flavors linked to the "White Gold" to arrive at convivial moments, exhibitions and shows.
The salt, instead of being stored awaiting distribution, is offered as a wish of luck and prosperity to those present. Numerous typical local products are offered in the markets and in the many delicious food stands during this long weekend. Also scheduled are conferences, a dedicated postmark and all-special guided tours.
The program is completed with 10 food stands and a market of taste for a gastronomic offer and quality street food, exhibition stands of local products, demonstrations of making bread and fresh pasta, postmark dedicated to the party and finally daily excursions in salt pan by Atlantis and the Cultural Group Civiltà Salinara. Giovanna Zucconi who will be present at some guided tours of the salt pans will talk about the scents and smells of natural environments such as the sea and the salt pans
The Association of the La Pantofla Fishermen's Recreational Club of Cervia participates in Sapore di sale 2021 with a food stand in the parking lot adjacent to Piazzale dei Salinari for the tasting of traditional Cervia seafood specialties.
The stand will remain open on the evening of Friday 3 September, from 19.00 to 22.30. Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September, as well as in the evening, also from 12 to 14.30.
You can taste in the food stand: risotto alla marinara, grilled blue fish, mussels marinara, chips, with water, wine and draft beer.
The salt festival becomes more and more international every year and this year in particular there will be representatives of various European salt pans.
The 4st International Forum of the European Salt Cities Association will take place on Saturday 9 September from 13 to 1 at the Magazzino del Sale Torre. association of the cities of salt which will be formalized on the days of the festival. Theme of the forum: The salt marshes, natural heritage between tradition and innovation. Potential of the network in the valorisation and protection of environmental, landscape, artistic, historical and cultural resources, also from a tourist point of view; examples of good practices and proposals for the future.
On the same day the exhibition will be officially opened: "The Magic of Salt" exhibition of images and descriptions of the territories and salt pans of the cities belonging to the network which will remain on display from 2 to 5 September.
At 19.15 pm presentation of the project for the recovery and conversion of the Magazzino del Sale Darsena into the future Darsena del Sale which will open in December 2021. Sunday from 10 to 13 it will be the turn of the awarding of the "Cervia Ambiente 2021" Award conferred to Marco Cattaneo, Director of National Geographic Italy and the Sciences. Lectio magistralis on "The future of our seas". From 1 September to 7 November "Piran, the last Istrian salt pans" is a photographic exhibition for the 30th anniversary of the Salt Pan Museum, curated by Pomorski muzej Sea Museum of Piran "Sergej Masera" which will be held at the MUSA salt museum. Inauguration on Friday 3 at 18.30 On the days of the festival, the museum will observe wider opening hours with openings throughout the day
Also at the Magazzino del Sale will also be on display "Il Sale della Vita": photographic images of the area by the Cervese Photographic Circle.
