The process of conserving food through the use of salt was introduced by the Romans and is still popular today. The Roman took a large amount of their salt from the area around the Mar Menor. At times, troops in the Roman army were paid in salt and this became the origin of the word salary. The word salad literally means "salted," and again comes from the ancient Roman practice of salting leaf vegetables .
Murcia is still one of Spain's principal producers of salted produce. Products such as cured tuna (atun de ijada), mullet roe (hueva de mujol) and sardines (sardinas de bota) are a real delicacy.
Mar Menor Tourism Services Association
Tel. 968 170 256 www.marmenor.net
Murcia Turistica
Tel. 902 1 01 070 www.murciaturistica.es
In the port of Mazarron you can visit the remains of a real Roman salting factory and find out how the famous Roman fish sauce known as "Garum" used to be made. In the Late Roman period, Mazarron was home to one of the major manufacturing centres of salted goods and fish products.
Mazarron Tourist Information Office
Tel.: 968 594 426
www.mazarron.es
