Ston

Ston is  situated about 55 kms north of Dubrovnik where the main road branches off to go to Split or out to Korcula, the first of the bigger islands in the Dalmation archipelago. Ston is renown for  two things, the Great Wall that once protected the town and its thriving salt industry. Ston is a very small village expanding at the seams during the tourist season. It seems to be a stop off place. We have come to stay because of the wall. One of the teachers at school told me that you were able to climb the wall which leads to another village 1 km away called Mali-Ston, meaning little Ston. It seems in the days gone by the walls surrounded both villages, as well as another unforgiving hillside of stone. The small castle at the top must have given fantastic 360 degree panaramas of the whole region to spot  any approaching foe. Since salt production has been taking place for the last 800 years the salt was stored inside the city walls and guarded vehemently. 

So when there is a wall to be climbed, I'm up for the challenge. The wall runs around the hillside and ascends into Mali-Ston, a very pleasant walk once you climb the first 200 m up. The views are lovely, and Mali-Ston is a pleasant wee village swelled also by tourist numbers at this time of the year. Mali- Ston is also renown for its oyster and mussel production. I'm yet to taste the former. 

Today we toured the salt sanpan around the wee village of Ston. Apparently Ston salt in days gone by had the same value as gold, so no wonder the area was heavily fortified. It is interesting to see the old paver stones used at the bottom of the salt pans. Early this morning men were out raking and pushing the salt crystals around the pans, to combat the salt "sticking" to the pavers. You can see in the photo below the lines from the raking. From my eyes the production is not as great as Lake Grassmere however the huge sea salt crystals are on sale around the area and and purchased quite readily by consumers.