Ston Salines

The Ston Salines, the solana Ston, are the salt pans at the head of the bay of Mali Ston, worked since Roman times and possibly earlier, and among the oldest continuously operated salt flats in Europe. For centuries they were the chief source of income of the Dubrovnik Republic, which built the great walls of Ston largely to protect them.

The salt is still produced by the same method the Romans used, by solar evaporation of seawapon in a series of shallow basins, and it is still harvested by hand, with long wooden tools, in the dry heat of high summer. The sight of the rectangular basins, edged in pale stone and filled with pink and white brine at different concentrations, is the visual reward of a visit.

The salt works sit at the base of the Ston walls, and a visit can be combined with a walk along the walls and a meal in Mali Ston, whose bay produces the famous oysters. The salt itself, fleur de sel and coarse sea salt, is sold at the site.

For photographers, the coloured basins from above are the shot, and the hand-harvesting in July and August is the time to see it. The salt works have limited opening outside the harvest season, so check before driving out.

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