Stage 14 - from Portoscuso to Iglesias

TECHNICAL DATA

DEPARTURE: Portoscuso 11 m (asl)

ARRIVAL: Iglesias 189 m asl

TECHNICAL DATA:

• Length: 34.8 km

• Elevation gain/loss: +821 m and –641 m

• Maximum gradient: +28.0%

• Minimum gradient: -26.2%

Highest point: (Iglesias - Via Fratelli Cairoli) h: 196 m (asl).

STAGE DESCRIPTION:

After returning from Carloforte and disembarking at Portovesme, head back to the square in front of the Su Pranu Tuna Fishery; from here, the final stage of the route begins.

The first stretch retraces the previous route toward Capo Altano (see Stage 9), taking Via Grazia Deledda and leaving Portoscuso. Next, turn right onto Viale delle Regioni and, after passing the pine forest, reach a crossroads where you turn left onto Viale Sardegna. On this street, at the first intersection, turn left onto Via Valle D’Aosta, and continue northeast along Via Santa Barbara.

After about 700 m on Via Santa Barbara, you’ll find the shrine of San Francesco, where it’s possible to take a short break before proceeding along the country road known as Strada Romana.

From the start of the stage to the hairpin bend along this country road, the route gradually climbs at a nearly constant 2.3% gradient, starting from an elevation of 9 m asl (Su Pranu Tuna Fishery) and reaching 95 m at the bend on Strada Romana.

After the hairpin turn, descending westward, enter the pine forest and, crossing the reforestation area, join the provincial road and turn left to head north.

Continue for about 750 m on the provincial road; the stage then continues by turning right on an industrial road that soon becomes a dirt road, while keeping left on the provincial road leads to the first variant route, which suggests staying on SP 108 instead of entering toward Loc. Ghilotta.

back to the main route of the stage.

Take the industrial road, which climbs for about 1.5 km at a 4.3% gradient. Then, descending toward the Ghillotta Necropolis, you can see the Seruci Mine on the left (still partially active due to a recent experimental conversion – see Stage 7 - Carbosulcis). Continuing along this dirt track, you will reach the vicinity of the nuraghe Ghillotta, where a short distance later you’ll find the junction with SP 82; turn left here. After a little over 1.5 km on the provincial road, reach a crossroads where, by turning left, the road takes you to the entrance to the Seruci Mine.

Near the gates of the mining site, turn right onto a dirt road, which leads to the entrance of the Archaeological site of Nuraghe Seruci and its Nuragic village, where, with a reservation, you can enjoy an interesting guided tour.

The Seruci complex, made up of a complex nuraghe with ramparts, a sprawling hut village and a Giant’s Tomb, extends over six hectares. The main nuraghe, pentagonal or hexalobate in design, dates to the Recent Bronze Age (late 14th century BC) and remained in use until the 10th century BC, at the end of the Bronze Age. The main tower (mastio) featured three superimposed chambers and had a base diameter of about 60 meters, rising some 15 meters high, surrounded by an outer rampart with five (or six) towers, some of which are well preserved.

Around the nuraghe lies one of the largest Nuragic villages in Sardinia, with around a hundred circular huts clustered in residential areas separated by internal pathways. Some huts display unusual architectural solutions, rarely seen in other Nuragic settlements, such as dividing walls and the addition of extra rooms. Near the nuraghe, there is a large hut (called the Chief’s Hut), probably used as a meeting place for the community or a part of it.

After your visit, descend the cobblestone then paved road, cross SP 108 and turn left to continue on the provincial road.

Continue until you reach the junction where, by turning right, you join SS 126 towards Bacu Abis.

Not long after joining the main road, on the right you can see the remains of the Rural Church of San Rocco (patron saint of pilgrims), and continuing onward you reach the roundabout, which allows you to change direction and take the road toward Bacu Abis, passing first by the Pozzo Castoldi site.

Built in 1929, Pozzo Castoldi was operational from 1931 to 1941. The structure included a headframe, winch cabin, and tunnels. With its stone lining and size (3.50 × 1.50 m), it could accommodate two cages. The iron trellis headframe was 22 meters high. Mining activity ceased in 1941 when the vein was depleted, and the shaft was converted into a connecting gallery with the Cortigiana mine. It was fully decommissioned in the second half of the 1950s. Today, the only restored element of industrial archaeology on site is the extraction winch, powered by an electric motor sheltered in the so-called “winch house.” In the square outside the shaft, you can also see exposed arch supports and some small coal carts.

Entering Bacu Abis, follow the main streets through the village to reach the square in front of the Church of Santa Barbara, from where the annual procession dedicated to the saint begins.

From the church square, take Vicolo Pietro Micca, and at the end of the houses, turn left to descend and pick up the dirt track that follows the old railway line heading north toward Gonnesa.

This dirt road soon ends at Corso Giacomo Matteotti; turn left and continue toward the town center of Gonnesa, reaching Via della Repubblica.

Following this street near Gonnesa’s center, after about 100 m, you’ll encounter Via S. Andrea: turn left here for an alternate route that passes by 1st Monte Onixeddu and Sa Macchina Beccia, Pozzo Santa Barbara.

By turning right and leaving Via Sant’Andrea (Gonnesa) behind, continue on Via della Repubblica, then turn left onto Via Gramsci, passing near the Parish Church of Sant’Andrea Apostolo.

Continue downhill to the ruined old station building, then head toward the area of the cemetery and sports field of Gonnesa.

At the sports field, continue on the path that follows the old railway line, which has recently been converted into a cycling and walking path by the CMSB Foundation.

The stretch leading to Bindua (a hamlet of Iglesias) has undergone various improvements: the surface is now suitable for both walking and cycling, signage is in place (both directional and informational), and safety measures have been implemented.

Specifically, for safety reasons, wooden fences have been installed to protect the path over railway embankments, and on the masonry overpasses, corten steel railings have been placed to prevent falls.

Noteworthy, too, are several valuable railway structures, such as the four-span bridge over the Rio San Giorgio and the Is Ollastus tunnel: both have been secured and adapted for bikes and pilgrims, featuring corten steel parapets on the bridge and safety improvements to the tunnel’s crown, with its interior equipped with lighting and video surveillance systems entirely powered by renewable energy.

At Bindua, the stage continues through an underpass skirting SS 126, leading directly to the entrance of the former mining complex of the San Giovanni Mine.

Entering the San Giovanni mining complex, immediately turn left and start the ascent toward the ruins of the large mechanical washery (Laveria Keller). Climbing further, reach the large clearing where, on the left, you'll find the reception area for visits to the Grotta di Santa Barbara (which is highly recommended, subject to reservation and checking opening times).

The Grotta di Santa Barbara is a natural cave in the heart of the mountain, notable for its walls covered in dark brown tabular barite crystals. The cave opens up between layers of waxy limestone and yellow silicified dolomite, dating back to the Lower Cambrian (about 500 million years ago), making them extremely ancient.

This unique site of interest can be reached via underground tunnels accessible by a small train, which, after traveling 700 meters, leads to a lift that ascends along a shaft and opens directly into the cave.

After visiting the Grotta, it is advisable to retrace your steps to the square and turn left to visit Villaggio Normann (still partially inhabited), where the residential houses of the mining complex remain intact. In the center of the settlement, you can admire the facade and ruins of Villa Stefani, once the home of the mine director, and the small pine park in front of this unique residence.

Villaggio Normann once housed employees of the nearby San Giovanni mine, a historical site already known in Roman times where, from 1867, a silver-bearing vein was worked. The mine operated until the 1980s, when it was finally abandoned. Today, around seventy people live in Normann, among restored and inhabited homes and ruins that recall its mining past. The principal historic buildings include Villa Stefani, Villa Pintus, the ruins of the Church of San Giovanni at the town entrance, and the former company store.

Once back on the square, take the dirt track which descends through the pine forest created as the final covering of the mine dump near the washery and then, via a steep descent (which is advised to walk down if on a bike), reach the plateau where the route meets the old, now disused railway line.

Follow the railway route and cross the small bridge over the Rio San Giorgio to arrive at the disused Monteponi Scalo railway station, where, along with imposing mining buildings, the remains of elegant Liberty-style service buildings stand out.

In the second half of the 19th century, the expansion of mining activity (lead and zinc) at Monteponi led the company to build its own narrow-gauge private railway, inaugurated between 1871 and 1876, to transport the extracted minerals to the port of Portovesme. Initially, this line did not connect to the nearby Iglesias station and was dedicated solely to mineral transport.

Only in the last decade of the 19th century did the Royal Sardinian Railway Company build the short standard-gauge connection between Iglesias and Monteponi, and on October 1, 1898, the new Monteponi station of the Royal Railways opened for passenger and freight traffic. The entry into service of the railway optimized the transport system in the area, especially for forwarding minerals from Monteponi to the rest of the island, as well as establishing a rail link for goods and people. In 1920, the station, along with the entire Royal Railways network, came under the management of the State Railways. Traffic increased with the design of a public narrow-gauge railway network for the Sulcis-Iglesiente area, and on April 3, 1926, Royal Decree 668 established the transfer of the mining line. This led to the replacement of the tracks from the FS's 1435 mm gauge to the FMS's 950 mm, also losing its status as a terminus.

In 1969, the partial collapse of a tunnel between the Cabitza and Iglesias stations led to the suspension of service along the section between Monteponi and Iglesias, and on September 1, 1974, railway operations ended permanently and the FMS station of Monteponi was abandoned.

Take the dirt road uphill to the right; you’ll reach a barrier that, if closed, needs to be opened then closed again after passing through. This structure is near the intersection with the road descending from SS 126, used for Variant 3, close to the old Power Plant.

Climbing further, reach the paved section and the underpass of SS 130, the meeting point with the Variant—after passing it, follow the dirt road which, after about 1.6 km near the Campo Pisano Mine, comes to a fork where you turn left and veer north.

The dirt road from this junction continues as Via Amelia Melis de Villa, which leads to the outskirts of Iglesias where, by turning left onto Via Fratelli Cairoli, you reach the walls enclosing the Caserma Trieste (Carabinieri school).

Continue on Via Fratelli Cairoli until you reach Via Indipendenza; turn right here and then left to take Via XX Settembre, arriving at the intersection with Via Garibaldi near the railway station.

Shortly after the station, turn left onto Via Antas, opposite the Monteponi Stadium, and finally turn left again onto Via Val Verde to return to Piazza Quintino Sella, where Stage 09—and with it the Cycle Route of the Cammino di Santa Barbara—ends.