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This reserve, established in 2000 on 2.750 acres, is a coastal territory featuring an abandoned salt pan, Salina dei Monaci (a.k.a. “Salina Vecchia”), with a periodic variation of the water level, strong fluctuations in salinity, and almost completely dry in summer (except for the central part) with consequent formation of salty crusts).

It used to be just a huge depression, behind the coastal dunes, connected to the sea by a canal, which still performs its function today.
This area has been used for collecting sea salt since 1731. Between 1940-1950, this area was subjected to some minor anti-malarial reclamation.

FLORA AND FAUNA

This reserve is an excellent place for birdwatching, especially when it comes to pink flamingos during their migrations, as well as many other bird species.

The scrub of vegetation is mostly represented by low shrub species such as calicotome (Calicotome infesta), pink rock-rose (Cistus creticus), mastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus), myrtle (Myrtus communis), and green olive trees (Phillyrea latifolia).