Path Description
Variant Length: 15.6 km
Stage Length with Variant: 41.5 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: + 1000 m / - 821 m.
Max gradient: 19.0% / -19.2%.
Average slope: +3.4% / -3.8%.
Variante junction (Via S. Andrea in the town of Gonnesa) at Km 21.7 of the stage
Variante exit (Upper square of the San Giovanni mine) at Km 28.1 of the stage
Highest point (Road Loc. Miniera di San Giovanni, after Villaggio Asproni) h: 318 m (asl).
DESCRIPTION
Taking Via Sant'Andrea, turning right onto Via della Repubblica which follows the Tappa, and continuing beyond the town on its extension, you cross the farm road of Loc. Si Basca and follow this in a south-east direction.
After a short while, the farm road begins to climb, becoming a dirt road and at the beginning of a few bends, the ruins of the industrial buildings of the Monte Onixeddu Mine are visible.
This ancient silver-bearing galena mine dates back to 1854 and was initially managed by various illustrious engineers, including Eyquem, Asproni, and Prospero Christin. It subsequently passed to various companies, including foreign ones, and in 1899 the concession was transferred to the Società Mineraria Lombarda, which extended its exploitation to include zinc ores. In 1933, with the transfer to the Società Pertusola, work underwent a significant boost, thanks in part to the construction of the washery during this period, significantly increasing ore production. In 1969, the mine was transferred to Piombo Zincifera Sarda, and like most Sardinian mines, its subsequent transfer to SAMIM marked its demise.
Continuing uphill on this dirt road after about 4.1 km you come to a crossroads and turning left you arrive at a farm. After passing it, you reach the majestic structure of Sa Macchina Beccia, also known as the “Castle of San Giorgio”.
This unique building was built in 1870 as a mine shaft known as the Santa Barbara shaft. Its Sardinian name, "Sa Macchina Beccia" (The Old Machine), comes from the large steam engine inside, which was used to lift the extracted minerals (primarily silver-bearing galena). In 1940, the mine was no longer considered productive, and the shaft was abandoned.
From this particular site, it is possible to visit the Asproni Mining Village (recently acquired by private individuals and currently being redeveloped for exhibition purposes) and then descend, taking the dirt road in front of Sa Macchina. Beccia descends towards the valley, arriving near the San Giorgio mud basin and continuing until reaching the SS 130 underpass. The downhill route has an average gradient of approximately 5.3% and is therefore easier than the one that descends to the San Giovanni Mine (15% gradient - see Variant 3).
Asproni Village was founded during the heyday of the Seddas Moddizzis mine, and was inhabited by the Asproni family and the mine's employees. The village consists of a few houses, a shop, the church of San Giorgio, the 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 mining crisis began, and remained abandoned for a long time, used primarily as an animal shelter. Recently, as previously mentioned, the village was purchased by private individuals with the intention of redeveloping it and turning it into a museum. As a ghost town, according to some folk tales, the village is haunted by the ghost of Cavalier Toro, an important figure in Gonnesa in the early 20th century.
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