The Iglesiente
Certainly the whole region, whose name today is Iglesiente, has always lived
in relation to the mines, since the Nuraghic age and since the exploitation
in Punic and Roman age, by the slaves' work and that one of condemned
people. After the crisis of the high medieval age, the Pisans understood
the richness of the subsoil and to give so a new impulse to the mining
production. After a new decline during the Spanish domination, because of
the richer American mines, there was a great mining boom, when tens of mines
were opened on the mountains and in the hills. Today these places seem
ghostly; distant from any inhabited centre, in wild and evocative places,
neglected installations go into ruin.
After having routed the Cixerri plain, the itinerary arrives at Iglesias, a
town that presents motives of historical and artistic interest. After being
penetrated into the Iglesiante mountains that offer very fascinating
panoramic views, the itinerary finishes on the long beach of Buggerru.
Road Map
ASSEMINI
From Cagliari take the 130 government street, in direction of
Assemini-Iglesias. Assemini is an important handicraft production centre,
where wood, iron beaten, pots, pitchers of terracotta and ceramics are
manufactured.
VILLA SPECIOSA AND SILIQUA
Continuing along the 130 government street you pass for Villa Speciosa with
its small gracious Romanic church of San Platano of the 12th century. The
road continues in a plain in which appears the rocky cone with the ruins of
the Acquafredda castle. We are at Siliqua, at the beginning of the Cixerri
valley.
DOMUSNOVAS
The town is situated at the feet of the Marganai limy bulky. It was founded
by the Pisans in the 12th century, today there are few traces of the
glorious past.
THE CAVE OF SAN GIOVANNI (detour)
At the entrance of Domusnovas a signal indicates the direction for San
Giovanni's cave. Dug by the torrent, it is long 850 metres and you can
route it by car on a paved road... At half route, on the left, the cave
gets on for another kilometre into the mountain and it is easily pass
through it on foot.
VILLAMASSARGIA (detour)
Returned on the government street, after 4 Km we arrive at Villamassargia.
Its historical attractions are some churches and the castle of Gioiosa
Guardia on the east hill of the town.
IGLESIAS
Now considered a new point of reference for the Sulcis-Iglesiente province,
Inglesias preserves in part the intact installation of the old centre
founded and organized by the Pisans, closed by a ring of walls with four
doors and connected with the near mining zones and the Cixerry valley.
NEBIDA AND MASUA (detour)
Leaving Iglesias on the Via Cattaneo you immediately arrive at the imposing
and evocative complex of Monteponi lead-zinciferous mine. Continuing on the
road we see a landscape of split mountains marked by holes in the wells. On
the left there is the complex of San Giovanni's mine. Turning on to Nebida
you immediately arrive at a nice beach with a breathtaking panorama.
Protacting, the road climbs up the coast precipice in a nice mountainous
landscape.
TEMPIO DI ANTAS
Out from Iglesias in the direction of Fluminimaggiore, the road passes near
the artificial Corsi lake for the irrigation of the Cixerry valley.
Carrying on in a fine mountain landscape with lollipops forests and
desolated mines, we arrive at the sacred ruins of Antas temple. It is a
magnificent Punic-Roman temple.
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THE SU MANNAU CAVES
Along the Rio Antas valley, there are two beauty caves on the mountains, one
is called od Su Mannau, 7 Km long and routed by a river, and the one of San
Pietro with nice concretions. Don't miss it.
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BUGGERRU
Left Fluminimaggiore we reach Buggerru. The coast has some fascinating
resorts and the panorama opens on the sea with its intense blue colour.
Continuing towards Arbus, reachable after about 20 Km in a very evocative
landscape of high hills, we return to Cagliari.
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