Levanzo: the works of the Roman era salting Cala Minnola

The salting plants visible from the google maps satellite

When I told this strange discovery I wondered why in the guide books do not talk about enough.

Yet these installations from the Roman era discovered in Levanzo in the late 70s of the last century are very interesting because they are located in a wonderful place both from a naturalistic and above all archaeological point of view.

You must be thinking that this area was quite busy even probably more now despite the looming tourism Egadi Islands.

The findings of rostrums of the Roman ships who participated in the famous Battle of the Egadi which ended in favor of the Romans in the First Punic War, the discovery of large quantities of amphorae in its seabed Cala Minnola make me think that this bay in Roman times had to be quite crowded… then if there was also a salting facility where it produced the delicious GARUM then I have no more doubts.

(from wikipedia)

The garum is a liquid sauce fish guts and salted fish that the ancient Romans added as a seasoning in many pasta dishes and main courses. The word is of uncertain etymology. For more, sauces like they were already used previously by the Greeks. One hypothesis therefore is that it derives from the greek name garos o garon (garon), which it was the name of the fish whose intestines were originally used in the production of the toppings.

The news of this dressing are very fragmentary and sometimes contradictory, therefore there is uncertainty about what it was and how to get ready. Some say it was similar to anchovy paste, others to the brine fluid of salted anchovies, that on the Amalfi coast and particularly in Cetara you can also enjoy today with the name of “colatura”. A still exists sauce, which is assumed to approach the garum, It is the Nuoc Mam, a native fish sauce of Vietnamese cuisine and quite widespread in the Far East

Route to Cala Minnola and salting plants

To get to Cala Minnola just take the only path that starts from the port of Levanzo right.

E’ a nice walk a couple of kilometers you ride comfortably in 20 minutes, near the reef that first door in the suggestive Cala Fredda by beautiful backdrops and then after a few minutes walk to Cala Minnola.

Here in the center of Punta Minnola are visible on the floor of the grooves also visible from the satellite as in the opening picture of this post.

In 1977 this ancient plant for fish processing was recognized by a tourist on holiday in the island of Levanzo. In spit of land that juts out toward the east to the north of Cala Minnola were found 8 earthenware tubs and numerous pottery fragments assigned to the Roman era and especially the first imperial age. Among the fragments is recognizable loop of Punic amphora of cigar type and fragments of an amphora vinaria Italic. It seems, then, that this system was already in operation in the first century BC; with the onset of the Middle Ages, the ancient factories for fish processing, falling into disuse production of "garum", They turned into very similar traps modern facilities and are often located in the same places of ancient settlements.

Today the tanks were filled to prevent thefts or vandalized the archaeological site. To learn more about the history of the discovery of this site and who has actively participated in its original exploration I recommend that you take Peppe Pisciotta a Palermo living in Levanzo for years where he runs a diving center authorized by AMP Egadi Islands.

Obviously before and after the visit a bathroom with a mask and tube in this wonderful Mediterranean flap is obligatory !