This time our friend Francesca makes us discover the world of the mines, a fascinating environment close to the dunes of Piscinas and the sea.

Symbol of a noble past, but also and most of all of hard work.

The tourist who during the hot summer likes laying on the beach should visit this charming place and experience another side of this splendid island.

The mining complex has several monuments of industrial archaeology, is part of the “Parco Geotermico Storico ed Ambientale della Sardegna” and is listed in the UNESCO Geo-Parks.

A short history:
from the finds discovered near Sciria, the complex can be dated to the pre-nuragic era.
The first documents on the mining activities date back to 1628, with an edict which assigned the mining concession to Giacomo Esquirro.

Under the Savoy reign, the operations were assigned to several operators.
In 1848 the perpetual concession of the Monte Vecchio mines was assigned to Giovanni Antonio Sanna, a businessman from Sassari.
For 150 years the area expanded, transforming from a mining village to a small town with all the facilities and the office blocks.

In 1991 with the closedown of the last pit the town became depopulated.

For more info:
wiki/montevecchio

Thank to our friend Francesca for the beautiful photographs