From Iglesias to Montevecchio, passing through sea-suspended ports and ghost villages swallowed by silence, every stop is a window into a past that still breathes among the tunnels and mountain ridges.
The rumble of the mine carts has faded, yet the soul of the mines endures — in the wind that sweeps across Piscinas, along the rusted rails of Ingurtosu, and in the stones that glow at sunset like a final glimmer of gold.
This itinerary will take you into the heart of the Sulcis-Iglesiente and the Costa Verde, where Sardinia reveals its most authentic face: wild, proud, and deeply human.
📍 Iglesias – Historical Heart of Mining Activity
The journey begins in Iglesias, the ancient mining capital of Sardinia. Its streets still preserve the 19th-century charm of the British and Piedmontese mining companies. The Mining Art Museum and the Mining Archive recount stories of hard labour, innovation, and multicultural communities.
📍 Porto Flavia – The Architectural Masterpiece Suspended Over the Sea
From the town centre, the route continues toward the coast of Masua, where Porto Flavia stands: a revolutionary loading port carved into the sheer cliffs above the sea. Its internal gallery and the view of Pan di Zucchero offer one of the most iconic panoramas of mining-era Sardinia.
📍 Cala Domestica – The Bay That Once Served as a Mining Port
Continuing along the coast, you reach Cala Domestica, a stunning ochre-coloured inlet that once served as a loading port for minerals extracted inland. Remnants of warehouses, tracks, and logistical structures are still visible today.
📍 Buggerru – The “Little Paris” of the Miners
The route goes on to Buggerru, a village that was once a pivotal hub of the mining industry. Italy’s first workers’ strike took place here in 1904. The Henry Gallery is a must-see and can now be explored aboard a picturesque panoramic train.
📍 Ingurtosu – A Mining Village Shrouded in Legend
Heading north, you come across Ingurtosu, a ghost mining village set in a wild valley. The former Management Building and the old facilities tell the story of a grand and demanding past, now largely reclaimed by nature.
📍 Piscinas – Golden Dunes and Industrial Archaeology
Not far away, the magnificent Piscinas beach is home to some of the largest sand dunes in Europe. Here, old railway tracks and mining carts emerge from the sand, creating a striking contrast between human engineering and a desert-like landscape.
📍 Funtanazza – Memories of a Miners’ Summer Colony
Continuing along the coast, you reach Funtanazza, once home to the “Francesco Sartori” seaside colony, built for the children of Montevecchio miners. Today it is a place suspended in time, overlooking a crystalline sea.
📍 Montevecchio – The Symbolic Village of the Mines
The itinerary then arrives at Montevecchio, one of the most renowned mining complexes in Europe. The Levante and Ponente sites, the workshop, the hospital, and the Management building reveal the structure of a true 19th-century “industrial town.”
📍 Arbus – Between Mines, Craftsmanship and Nature
The journey concludes in the area of Arbus, gateway to the Costa Verde. In addition to the surrounding mining sites, the town is known for its handcrafted folding knives and for trails that weave together landscape, history, and identity.
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