The salt pans stretch approximately three kilometers along the coastline.
Traditional harvesting techniques at this site date back to Phoenician and Roman times.
Salt crystals are manually gathered from the pans using wooden rakes and shovels.
The pans function as a natural solar evaporation system powered by the Mediterranean sun.
Production is seasonal, peaking between May and September.
The landscape is formed from Globigerina limestone, which is soft enough to be hand-carved.
Some salt pans at this location have been in continuous use by the same families for over five generations.
The Xwejni Salt Pans are a historic seaside site located on the northern coast of Gozo, Malta, near Żebbuġ. The pans consist of a three-kilometer network of rock-cut compartments used for natural sea salt production. Harvesting occurs throughout the summer months when seawater evaporates in the shallow basins. The site has been actively managed by the same families for generations, preserving traditional Phoenician salt-making techniques. The pans are carved directly into the limestone coastal shelf along the Mediterranean shore. They represent one of the few remaining examples of small-scale artisanal sea salt harvesting in the Maltese islands.
From the elevated coastal road looking down across the geometric grid of the pans against the sea.
Wear sturdy, non-slip footwear to navigate the uneven limestone rock surface.
Visit during the active harvesting season to observe local salt-gatherers at work.
Respect the marked areas to avoid damaging the delicate salt crusts in inactive pans.
Walking on the salt pans if signs indicate they are active or fragile; do not attempt to collect salt yourself.
Active harvesting takes place strictly during the summer months; salt is not produced during the rainy winter season.
Avoid walking inside the individual pans to prevent contamination and damage to the salt harvest; stay on designated paths.
