The history of salt extraction or the white gold as it is called in ancient times because of its precious value, tells the Museum of Salt in Pomorie. It is precisely because of salt production and trade with it that it is believed that Anhialo was created, as is the ancient name of today’s seaside Bulgarian city. It is supposed that the spice at first has been extracted from natural salt fields since the 5th century BC. These were sea shoals of which the water evaporated in the hot and dry summers and the salt formed in a natural way.
The ancient Anhialian technology, by which the museum still produces today salt, can be seen on the spot and the tourists can touch the crystals. The tools for designing, measuring and machining are different, but all are made of wood, as opposed to iron, it does not corrode when touched by salt. However, in order to reach the manual salt harvesting, the water from the salt lake of Pomorie passes through different pools of built-up channels.
In this way, it is released from excess chemical impurities and metals. So, unlike another salt, the sea has no bitterness. The white gold has played an extraordinary role in the fate of Pomorie, not only in the ancient times when it made the city rich but also during the Ottoman rule. The inhabitants of Pomorie supplied high-quality salt to the Sultan and therefore enjoyed a number of privileges and were exempt from the high taxes paid by the slaves.
In addition to its white gold, Pomorie boasts its black one – the healing Pomorie mud. Right next to the Salt Museum, everyone who likes can put some mud on and stay with it for free. It has been proven that Pomorie’s mud has a beneficial effect on 94 diseases, and even is curing infertility. However, people with heart problems can not benefit from it. And the rest should be lined with black gold for a maximum of 15 minutes, once a day. Pomorie boasts also its liquid gold – the wine and brandy produced in the region thanks to its many vineyards.
In the summer from 15 June to 15 September you can visit the museum every day from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. As on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For the remaining days of the year, the museum is open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entrance ticket costs 2 leva for adults /1 euro/ and for children, students, students, and disadvantaged people – 1 leva /50 euro cents/. The lecture on the history of salt production costs 3 leva /1,5 euro/ regardless of the number of people who listen to it.
