Salt Pans — Attraction in Xaghra

along the craggy coastlines of Malta and its sister island Gozo, the salt pans are a mesmerising blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. These age-old formations, etched into the limestone by hand, are not only a visual wonder but a working testament to a centuries-old tradition. A Striking Landscape

Visiting the salt pans — particularly those at Xwejni Bay in Gozo or Salina Bay in Malta — is like stepping into a living mosaic. Neat geometric grids shimmer in the sun, filled with evaporating seawater that eventually crystallises into salt. The setting is elemental: blue sea, white stone, and golden salt glinting under the Mediterranean sky. It's stark and stunning, especially at sunrise or sunset, when the light dances across the shallow pools and turns them into mirrors of colour. A Tradition Preserved

These salt pans aren’t relics of the past; they’re still very much in use. Maltese families — some with lineages going back generations — continue to harvest salt by hand during the summer months. Watching them at work is quietly fascinating: raking the salt with wooden tools, moving in rhythm with the breeze and tide, they seem almost a part of the landscape themselves.

There’s something deeply grounding about seeing this kind of craft up close — no machinery, no rush, just patience, knowledge, and respect for nature. You can often purchase their sea salt nearby: coarse, mineral-rich, and full of character, it makes for a unique and meaningful souvenir. A Place of Cultural Depth

Salt has been harvested in Malta since at least Roman times, and its importance to the island’s culinary and economic history is immense. The salt pans reflect this rich legacy — a convergence of sustainability, tradition, and self-sufficiency. They symbolise a way of life that values connection to the land (and sea), and a slower, more intentional rhythm of living. Visiting Tips

When to go: Early morning or late afternoon offers the best lighting and fewer crowds.

Footwear: The ground is uneven — sturdy shoes are recommended.

Be respectful: These are working sites; avoid stepping on the actual pans.

The salt pans of Malta are one of the island’s most quietly powerful experiences. They don’t shout for attention, but rather invite contemplation. Whether you're drawn by the history, the scenery, or the quiet artistry of salt-making, this is a place that stays with you — salty air, sun-warmed stone, and the soft sound of the sea still in your memory long after...

The production of sea salt has a long tradition in Gozo and the saltpans found near Marsalforn are still used today. It’s interesting to walk along to the them (very early in the morning) to watch the salt being collected as it glistens under the rising sun. The salt is firstly collected from salt pans along the coasts of Malta and Gozo. Salina Bay, near Bugibba, is the main production area of salt in Malta. The formation process of the salt begins when sea water starts to fill crevices in the coastline. This sea water is left to settle for eight days before it is moved to smaller salt pans that are warmer in temperature and further away from the sea. At the beginning of the drying process the water takes on a reddish hue and salt crystals begin to form. In fact, if you head down to the coast really early in the morning, there’s a chance you can see locals collecting rock salt from the 350-year-old salt pans in Marsalforn, Gozo. There are several salt pans along the Gozitan coast, namely in Qala,...

Built from the time of the Knights of Malta to harvest sea salt ...( a true source of currency in those days gone by) Over time this area was handed to a hardworking family A man who goes by the name of "Leli" has harvested salt for the past 45years or so.Not an easy task as the salt can be harvested throughout the months of summer namely May to Seotember.This is due to the fact that salt is easily washed away by stormy seas which lash the north coast ..fiercely during winter ,and as much as the inclement weather ,the salt is sensitive to dust particles and therefore wind is detrimental ,as it renders the salt dirty and uneatable. So does rain which erases all traces of salt. Also repairs have to be made year after year but in the end salt can be bought on location up to this day from Leli's Salt Shop.Hipe and pray that this trade will not perish in these "modern " times.This is a place worth visiting ,only a stone's throw away from the picturesque...