Beneath the city of Loulé in Portugal lies Campina de Cima, a rock salt mine primarily utilized for animal feed and road de-icing. In recent years, it has opened its doors to the public for guided tours of its extensive 25-mile network of tunnels, making it the sole accessible salt mine in the country.
Recently, the mine has adopted a new role as an exhibition space, inaugurated with ‘Ocean: Sea is Life’ by artists from the Portuguese David Melgueiro Association, known for its ocean clean-up efforts. Situated approximately 754 feet below Loulé and nearly 100 feet below sea level, the salt galleries serve as Portugal’s deepest tourist attraction, boasting salt formations dating back roughly 230 million years.
Amidst ongoing mining operations, guided tours delve into the mine’s history, showcasing machinery and honouring Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners. Legend has it that Saint Barbara, persecuted by her pagan father for her beauty and Christian faith, met a tragic end. To this day, her presence is invoked for protection in hazardous professions, with a shrine dedicated to her underground. The Campina de Cima houses a permanent exhibition, ‘Saint Barbara, Patron Saint of Miners and Other Arts’, featuring one of the world’s largest collections of objects related to the saint.
Artistic endeavours at the mine, including the 2022 exhibition featuring works by German painter Klaus Zylla, were spearheaded by TechSalt SA, the mine’s management company. Their vision aims to elevate the mine into a key attraction within the Algarvensis Geopark, with aspirations for UNESCO recognition. TechSalt SA’s mission statement emphasizes the exploration and commercialization of the mine’s salt resources while promoting Earth Sciences, Mining Industry, and Art.
The current exhibition, ‘Ocean: Sea is Life’, will conclude at the end of April, with tickets available through TechSalt’s website, offering visitors a unique blend of geological wonder and artistic expression.