Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara

This is the complete trail of the Santa Barbara Mining Trail, a hiking trail through industrial archaeology and the natural wonders of southwest Sardinia—the oldest part of Italy. The trail begins and ends in Iglesias and leads you through wild mountains, ghost villages, and cliffs overlooking the sea

Leaving the seaside village of Portoscuso, with its Spanish tower overlooking the sea, the route continues north, skirting volcanic cliffs that plunge into the blue Mediterranean.



This leg passes through some of the most picturesque stretches of the southwest coast: pine forests, cliffs, and ancient military

From Tratalias, with its splendid Romanesque cathedral of Santa Maria di Monserrato, the route continues south through a flat, luminous landscape, where the countryside alternates with the ponds of the Sant'Antioco salt pans. Along the way, you'll also encounter the church of Santa Maria di Palmas, one

A challenging stage, not so much for the distance as for the elevation gain, but one of the most spectacular on the Santa Barbara Mining Trail. From the Monti Mannu nursery, the trail climbs toward the granite outcrops of Piscina Irgas, where streams have carved out stunning rock faces and canyons over

This long and challenging stage traverses some of the most authentic landscapes of the Linas massif. From the center of Gonnosfanadiga, you ascend along ancient mining trails immersed in holm oak forests and Mediterranean scrub, walking on granite and alongside small streams that flow through the valleys

You leave the mining village of Montevecchio and take the ancient miners' trail. You descend through the metalliferous hills, through woods and traces of mining activity, to the Campidano plain. Here you encounter basalt flows from the Tertiary volcanism and the Cuccur'e Zeppara columnar basalt geosite

This mostly uphill stage begins at Piscinas beach. Leaving the large sand dunes behind, you head inland. Here, the landscape becomes greener and more shaded, amidst holm oak forests and Mediterranean scrub, where it's not uncommon to spot Sardinian deer. Along the way, you'll encounter the remains of

Departing from Musei, you'll cross the fertile Cixerri Valley, passing cultivated fields and pastoral farms that reflect the rural soul of the area. After the initial flat stretches, the route enters the S'Ortu Mannu Natural Park, where you can admire hundreds of imposing centuries-old olive trees—some

This stop takes you through the salt pans, ancient tuna fisheries, and the vibrant historic center of Carloforte, immersing you in the island's long maritime history and its living traditions, linked to tuna fishing and the salt and mineral trade.



Amid pristine coastal landscapes, cliffs, and glimpses

From the countryside of Nuraxi Figus, you walk through flat expanses and Mediterranean scrub until you reach the coast of Portoscuso, an ancient fishing village overlooking the Gulf of Sulcis.



Along the way, you'll encounter the Tonnara Su Pranu, a 17th-century complex with stone arches, juniper beams

Leave the center of Carbonia and head toward the Great Mine of Serbariu, now home to the Coal Museum. Among restored industrial buildings and evidence of mining, the trail evokes the origins of the town, founded in the 1930s to house thousands of miners from the Sulcis basin.



Leaving the town, you'll

From Candiani, the route follows the coastline, walking between cliffs and coves, overlooking the Gulf of Palmas, which accompanies you for much of the stage. The cliffs of Porto Pineddu and Portu Su Trigu offer spectacular views, with the sea alternating between turquoise and deep blue.



After crossing

From Masainas, the route crosses the Basso Sulcis plain, passing through cultivated fields, vineyards, and ancient Nuragic settlements. At the start, you'll encounter the Nuraghe Nuraxi Mesu, while a little further on, climbing towards Sant'Anna Arresi, the Nuraghe Arresi towers over the town and the

Leaving the Is Zuddas Caves, the trail climbs steeply toward the saddle of Monte Moddizzi, which overlooks the entire Lower Sulcis region. The initial climb is challenging but short, and rewards you with open views stretching all the way to the sea.



Along the way, you'll encounter barite quarries and

Leaving Nuxis, the landscape changes within the first few kilometers: the granite rocks of the Lower Sulcis form spectacular landscapes, with wind-sculpted blocks and tafoni dotting the Mediterranean scrub.



Along the route, you'll encounter the remains of the mining activities that have shaped the area