From the southern part of the city of Messolonghi, by following the Tourlida road, one can reach the island of the same name, located near the southern boundary of the lagoon. The connection is made via a 5 km long coastal road, which was built between 1874 and 1881 with materials from the excavations in the construction of the harbour. It acts as a bridge between Messolonghi and the island, which is why it was formerly called the Bridge, a name that has now been forgotten. The name of the island Tourlida is believed to be due to a species of waterfowl called tourlides (curlews in English). It used to take about half an hour to cross it by cart. Until the early 1950s it was a dirt road, but today it is paved and ideal for walking, cycling or driving, offering a unique experience. From here one can admire the Kleissova lagoon with its birdlife and enjoy the sunset.
The road crosses the lagoon of Kleissova, which it divides into two parts. The two bodies of water used to communicate with each other through eight wooden arches. After the reconstruction of the road in the 1960s, about half are still open today. On either side of the road, and especially in the last part of the road and on Tourlida, there are now to be seen modern pelades, the wooden pile-driven structures used mainly as holiday homes.
On the island of Tourlida, the Tourlida saltworks, also known as the “Black” saltworks, operates over an area of some 620 acres and produces 15,000 tons of salt. It dates back to the 14th century and belongs to the Municipality of Messolonghi, to which it has been granted since 1982 and is a municipal enterprise.
