The salt marshes played and play a key role in the economy of Cagliari. The salt is indeed known and used since ancient times and that's why the salt harvesting recall an archaic scene. Since thousands of years men, worried of starvation, have always sought to preserve food for as long as possible: that is the reason why numerous perishable food, such as fish, cheese, meat, were sprinkled with salt. Thus the history of the Mediterranean peoples is identified with the history of salt, '"the White Gold" considered ever more precious than gold. The "salt routes", from the sea to the inland territories, were the major trade routes of antiquity where fees were requested.
The Romans used the salt in their votive offering to the gods and also as medication. The Latins called it "sal", which is the root in numerous words: "salus" (health), "Salubritas" (health) and “salario” (salary /wages), the ration of salt received by soldiers as their pays. During the Middle Ages it was thought to be able to purify from the force of evil; it was exchanged as symbol of trust during economic agreements or wedding. On the contrary, if it had accidentally dropped, it was considered an ill omen, because too precious to be wasted. Today in Italy, as in many other European countries, people take, daily, a dose of salt twice higher than our body needs. Indeed, the food industry is characterized by the high consumption of salt to enhance the flavour and boost consumption of drinks.