Museo del Mar y de la Sal

The Museo del Mar y de la Sal opened on 4 February 1995 in Torrevieja with a clear purpose: to bring the city's twin identity, maritime and salt-working, under one roof — two activities that went hand in hand for centuries.

What is on display

The ethnological collection is organised into sections covering underwater archaeology, artisanal fishing gear, coastal shipping, sailmaking, riverside carpentry, the Spanish Navy's presence in the city and, naturally, salt extraction. Highlights include ship models, old photographs of the port and its fishing activity, archaeological material recovered from the seabed, and sculptures carved directly from crystallised salt, the material that sustained much of the local economy for generations. A separate workshop section covers the practical side of salt-making, the trade that once employed a large share of the town.

A renovated museum

The museum reopened in 2023 after works that modernised its layout and improved accessibility, without altering the core of the collection. Its current location is provisional pending a future move, but for now it remains the reference stop for understanding why salt has lent its name to festivals, streets and much of the city's identity.

Admission is free, and the museum pairs well with a visit to the Eras de la Sal, the old loading complex a short distance away, or with the floating museums in the port, which round out the city's maritime story with larger exhibits.