Stage 14 – from Portoscuso to Iglesias (Villaggio Asproni Variant)

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE – Monte Onixeddu – Sa Macchina Beccia (San Giorgio Castle) – Asproni Village

Alternative route length: 15.6 km

Stage length with alternative: 41.5 km

Elevation gain/loss: +1000 m / -821 m.

Maximum slope: 19.0% / -19.2%.

Average gradient: +3.4% / -3.8%.

Alternative route entry point (Via S. Andrea, Gonnesa) at Km 21.7 of the stage

Alternative route exit (Upper square, San Giovanni Mine) at Km 28.1 of the stage

Highest point (Loc. San Giovanni Mine Road, after Asproni Village) h: 318 m (a.s.l.).

DESCRIPTION

Take Via Sant’Andrea, turning right onto Via della Repubblica which the stage follows. Proceed beyond the town on its extension, where you’ll cross the local farm road of Loc. Si Basca and follow it southeast.

Shortly after, the farm road, which starts to climb, turns into an unpaved track; at the beginning of some hairpin bends, the ruins of the industrial buildings of Monte Onixeddu Mine are visible.

This ancient silver-bearing galena mine dates back to 1854 and was initially managed by various distinguished engineers: Eyquem, Asproni and Prospero Christin. It later passed to several other companies, including foreign ones, and in 1899 the concession was taken over by Società Mineraria Lombarda, which expanded mining activities to include zinc ores. In 1933, under Società Pertusola, mining activity increased significantly, particularly after the construction of the ore-washing facility which greatly boosted production. In 1969, the mine passed to Piombo Zincifera Sarda, and, like most Sardinian mines, its subsequent transfer to SAMIM marked its closure.

Continuing uphill on this dirt track for about 4.1 km, you reach a junction—turn left and pass a farm, beyond which you come to the imposing structure known as Sa Macchina Beccia, also referred to as the "San Giorgio Castle".

This unique building was constructed in 1870 as a mine shaft known as Pozzo Santa Barbara. Its Sardinian name, "Sa Macchina Beccia" (The Old Machine), is due to the presence inside of a large steam engine used to hoist the extracted ore (mainly silver-bearing galena). In 1940, when the mine was no longer considered productive, the shaft was abandoned.

From this distinctive site, you can visit the Asproni Mining Village (recently acquired by private owners and currently undergoing restoration for exhibition purposes), then descend by taking the unpaved road in front of Sa Macchina Beccia downhill towards the valley. This route passes near the San Giorgio tailings pond and continues towards the SS 130 underpass. The descent features an average gradient of about 5.3%, making it easier than the descent to the San Giovanni Mine (15% slope – see Alternative 3).

The Asproni Village was founded during the golden age of the Seddas Moddizzis mine and was inhabited by the Asproni family and mine employees. The village consists of several houses, a shop, the church of San Giorgio, management offices, the engineer’s villa, the school, and other small buildings.

It was abandoned in the first half of the 20th century, when the mine's decline began, and remained unused for a long time, mostly serving as shelter for animals. Recently, as previously mentioned, the village was purchased by private owners aiming to restore and turn it into a museum. As a ghost town, according to some popular tales, the village is said to be haunted by the specter of Cavalier Toro, a prominent figure from Gonnesa in the early 1900s.