MARGARITA ORFILA
Margarita Orfila, president of the Ateneu de Maó, shares her impressions today after visiting the Salinas de la Concepción and reveals to us the importance of the careful restoration that has been carried out, as well as the meaning that the possibility of salting food with Sal de Menorca holds for her.
It possibly first evokes the memory of having been a student very close to here at the paleochristian basilica next door. And on some occasions, we would come to see these Saltworks.
It reminds me of how something that was deteriorating has been recovered. To see it as it is now and see it so natural, and see the architectural work that has been done in this place, where the recovery is not only about restoring spaces but also about recovering a way of doing things, a way of working. I find it wonderful, spectacular, and to recover an activity that has always been associated with humans.
Before refrigerators existed, salt was the basis of life. It was the foundation of preservation and was made just as it is here now. I worked on this when I was young in my doctoral thesis, which was precisely about some Saltworks in Mallorca, and the way salt was obtained, the explanation Guillermo gave us today, and to see that nothing has changed, because there is no need to change anything, as the foundation is already there.
I find it splendid, very beautiful, and truly congratulations, especially to the promoters who made it happen, and how wonderful it will be in the future to be able to salt our food with the Salt from here, Sal de Menorca, with that wonderful Fleur de Sel. These daily harvests when the weather permits. In Menorca, thanks to the sun and wind, there are quite a few days.
Very beautiful, and above all, congratulations on this recovery.
Margarita Orfila
President Ateneu de Maó
