Stage 04 – from Gonnosfanadiga to Monti Mannu

DEPARTURE: Gonnosfanadiga 228 m (a.s.l.)

ARRIVAL: Montimannu 355 m (a.s.l.)

TECHNICAL DATA:

• Length: 27.40 km

• Elevation gain: +777 m and –650 m

• Maximum gradient: +24.2%

• Minimum gradient: -16.4%

• Highest point: Montimannu – Locanda del Parco 355 m a.s.l.

 

Possible detours to visit points of interest:

OUT-AND-BACK TO PERD’E PIBERA

Length: 9.0 km

Start/end point (start of the climb to Perd’e Pibera, loc. Costa Perdu Cau): h: 214 m (a.s.l.)

Highest point (former mining village of Perd’e Pibera just past the director’s house): h: 449 m (a.s.l.).

 

STAGE DESCRIPTION:

From the southern outskirts of Gonnosfanadiga, at the square in front of the Church of Santa Barbara, proceed first along Via Linas then turn left onto Via Piras; after about 350 m, you reach a junction. Take the left onto Via Circonvallazione, or continue straight ahead to start the ascent towards 1* Perd’e Pibera and the suggested out-and-back.

 

Staying on the route, follow Via Circonvallazione, which curves north and rises until it crosses Via Puccini; turn right here and continue until you reach the SS196, turning right again.

Stay on the main road for about 2.7 km, then return to the local inter-farm roads.

On this dirt road, which soon becomes paved, the route climbs towards the picturesque site, nestled in greenery, of the Sa Spendula waterfalls and springs; continuing on the same road, you enter the northern outskirts of Villacidro, reaching first the panoramic viewpoint of Croce Seddanus (301 m a.s.l.).

From the viewpoint, the route descends through the town streets, reaching the Church of Santa Barbara and passing by the distinctive Liberty-style public wash house.

The famous Villacidro Wash House, inaugurated in 1893, features a large Liberty-style roof supported by six cast iron columns adorned with scrollwork and pine cones, about ten basins with taps and drain pipes, and a tank similar to that of water troughs. In the past, housewives no longer had to go to the river to wash clothes, as they could use this public, covered, and sheltered space, which became a place for social gathering and interaction.

Continuing south and taking Via G. Garibaldi, leaving the town behind, after passing the small Piazza Launeddas and a bend, you reach a junction. Take the right to enter the road leading to Montimannu.

Here, the paved road initially descends and passes through the countryside of Villacidro until it intersects with the road that climbs to the dam on the Rio Leni.

This paved road takes you from 190 m a.s.l. to 254 m a.s.l. in just over 2.7 km, then continues at elevation, skirting the full length of the reservoir.

Once past the southern end of the reservoir, the road bends left and, after crossing the bridge over the Rio Leni, you reach a junction where you take the right towards the Canale Serci mine forest complex.

Take this road, which starts off paved and then turns into a dirt track; you will first reach the Forestry headquarters, located at the former mine management building, and after about 2.1 km you will get to the entrance of the Posada di Montimannu, where the stage ends.

 

OUT-AND-BACK TO PERD’E PIBERA

Just outside the town of Gonnosfanadiga, on the southern outskirts, the ascent begins towards the Perd’e Pibera Park, which includes restored buildings from the old mine.

With a climb of about 4.5 km and an average gradient of 5.4%, you reach the director’s house of the former Perd’e Pibera mine, the final part of the small mining village, nestled among the dense woods of the park.

The Perd’e Pibera Mine (also known as Riu Planu is Castangias) in Gonnosfanadiga is known for extracting a rare mineral, Molybdenite (MoS2), a molybdenum disulfide. This mineral has been in high demand by European steel industries since 1790, used in metal alloys and for hardening steels resistant to high temperatures, as well as for making electrodes and catalysts; when ground into fine powder, it became a highly important lubricant. Today, the site has become the largest park in Medio Campidano.

Among the various buildings renovated in the early 1990s is the small Church of Santa Barbara and the washing plant. Currently, the complex remains uninhabited and without particular activity.

After touring the small but significant mining site, return downhill to the town and rejoin the main stage at the point where you left off.