House of Salinas de Añana
“Sal Terrae”
Origin: Lords of the ancient salt works of Álava
The lords of Salinas de Añana controlled one of Europe's oldest continuously operating salt works, dating back to Roman times and exploited since at least 5000 BCE.\n\nSalt was as valuable as gold in medieval Iberia, and the family amassed considerable wealth from their monopoly. They supplied the Basque and Castilian kingdoms alike.\n\nThe intricate wooden channels and evaporation terraces they maintained are now recognized as one of Spain's most remarkable engineering monuments.