What to Do and See in Margherita di Savoia, Between Salt Pans and Sea

Margherita di Savoia is a charming seaside town in the province of Barletta Andria Trani, in Puglia, with a very ancient history. The site was already known in the 3rd century BC as Salinis and depended on the pre-Roman center of Salapia.

With the spread of Christianity, in the 12th century the location is documented as Sancta Maria de Salis. Let’s see what to do and what to see in Margherita di Savoia, before getting to know its origins.

10 Things to Do and See in Margherita di Savoia

1 Margherita di Savoia over time

At the beginning of the 14th century, to escape Saracen raids and the pestilential air of the swamp, the salt workers (as the inhabitants of Margherita di Savoia were called) took refuge in the outskirts of Barletta. Since then, even when they returned, they remained dependent on Barletta, to the extent that “Margherita” took the name of “Saline di Barletta”.

From the 16th century, the Torrione still stands, an ancient defense structure against Turkish raids, flanked by old 17th-century buildings that served as a warehouse for “exceptional salts.” Only after the unification of Italy, in 1879, was the name changed to Margherita di Savoia in honor of the first queen of Italy. The Torrione houses the “F. Galante Civera” Municipal Art Gallery.

2 The Saltworks of Margherita di Savoia

The history of Margherita di Savoia is inextricably linked to its saltworks. The inhabitants are interchangeably called margheritani or salinari. The sea saltworks of Margherita di Savoia is by area the largest in Europe. The saltwork area extends for about 4500 hectares, with a water-covered surface of about 4000 hectares. The nature of the soil, mostly clayey, which ensures a high degree of impermeability, favors the saturation of salt in the seawater. To learn about the history of the saltworks, a visit to the historical museum of the Saltworks is recommended.

3 Protected Area of Margherita di Savoia

The wetland of the salt pans of Margherita di Savoia has been declared an Internationally Important Wetland Area according to the Ramsar convention and is one of the most important in Italy for the resting, nesting, and wintering of about 200 species of water birds, including the famous pink heron.

4 Sea of Margherita di Savoia

Beach holidays in Margherita di Savoia. The crystal-clear and clean sea and a wide, equipped beach make Margherita di Savoia a recommended destination for a summer holiday. In addition to the sun and relaxation in the many equipped beaches, you can practice fishing tourism and water sports and enjoy events that enliven the entire Margherita summer.

5 Thermal Baths of Margherita di Savoia

Thermal holidays at Margherita di Savoia. The thermal baths of Margherita di Savoia are among the oldest in Europe. The baths, which have always utilized the mud and mother waters from salt extraction, offer a wide variety of treatments. Many services are offered by the thermal establishment, including a SPA for new beauty and wellness treatments.

6 Guided tours in the Margherita di Savoia wetland

A visit to the Margherita di Savoia wetland is highly recommended. The area constitutes a unique naturalistic ecosystem and is a point of reference for migratory and resident birds. The natural area is of great interest for observing many bird species among which the beautiful pink flamingos stand out. Inside the characteristic Villaggio dei Salinieri where an educational activity leading up to the visit takes place, a wooden bridge camouflaged with reeds has been built along with an Observatory for birdwatching. The observatory is the ideal place to enjoy the spectacle offered by the many species of water birds present in the protected area.

7 How to get to Margherita di Savoia

Those who choose to drive to Margherita di Savoia via the A14 Bari-Bologna must take the Andria Barletta exit coming from the South or the Cerignola exit coming from the North. For those who prefer to arrive by train, the nearest station is Barletta. For those who choose to fly, the closest airport is Bari Palese, about 50 km away.

8 What to eat in Margherita di Savoia

The strength of the cuisine of Margherita di Savoia lies in the combination of local land and sea products, skillfully used to prepare refined dishes suitable for all tastes. The excellent local catch is enhanced in the kitchen in combination with agricultural products from the sandbanks. The particularity of the sandy soils guarantees unique and distinctive characteristics to agricultural products of the territory such as potatoes, vegetables, carrots, and onions. The peculiarity of the sandbank soil and traditional care have also led to the IGP recognition of the white onion of Margherita di Savoia, a protagonist of the good local cuisine.

9 Where to eat in Margherita di Savoia

The dishes carefully and delicately prepared by local restaurateurs, respecting traditions, guarantee a varied and quality culinary offer. The proposed dishes, a sweet combination of land and sea, satisfy even the most demanding palates. Here are some restaurants in Margherita di Savoia that we had the chance to try: the tasty Ristorante Traiano on Via Traiano 1; the starred Canneto Beach 2 on Via Amoroso 11; the refined Oasi Beach on Via Vespucci; the specialized in fish Ristorante Rinelli on Via Garibaldi 108; the typical Osteria al Vicoletto on Via Vittorio Veneto 12. In general, the local cuisine is good and the dining experience is excellent, as is the rest of Puglia.

10 Where to sleep in Margherita di Savoia

The hotels in Margherita di Savoia suit all budgets. Alongside the traditional hotel offerings, you can easily find extra-hotel accommodation as well. The local accommodation facilities are of good quality and are spread throughout the coast and the historic center of the town. An excellent structure for location and value for money is the hotel Margherita located in Piazza delle Terme, just a few steps from the center and the beach that extends behind the accommodation facility. For those with a higher budget, nearby is the Grande Hotel delle Terme, large and luxurious.