Sardinia is the island of wonders, especially with regard to its landscape heritage. Among these is Porto Flavia, an extraordinary monument of industrial archeology extraordinarily inserted in the cliffs of an enchanting coast that offers visitors a breathtaking view of the sea of Masua and the exciting faraglione di Pan di Zucchero, one of the most enchanting places of South Sardinia.
Porto Flavia is a true masterpiece of engineering that has significantly improved the working conditions of miners and has significantly reduced the time and cost of transporting the ore. Before its construction, in fact, the minerals were loaded manually on small sailing boats, and then transported to the port of Carloforte from which large cargo ships departed to distribute them around the world.
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From 1924, that is from the inauguration of Porto Flavia, the situation changed completely: the minerals extracted from the mines of Masua and nearby areas were led through a narrow gauge railway inside the cliff, to be loaded into large silos of 1000 tons; then, through a system of conveyor belts, the minerals were transferred directly into the holds of large ships.
The name of the port was chosen by the engineer Cesare Vecelli, designer of the work, who opted for the name of his daughter Flavia. The structure remained operational until the sixties, and then turned into a real tourist attraction, which today leaves us breathless.
Next to what remains of the ancient mine is now the beach of Porto Flavia surrounded by a large pine forest. From here you can admire a wonderful view, overlooking the blue sea of the coast of Iglesias and the stacks of Sugar Loaf.
The nearby town of Iglesia, moreover, has many other beaches, as well as wonderful coves; certainly, it is recommended to take a trip to Porto Paglia and Nebida, another mining area today heritage of industrial archaeology of the Geominerary Park of Sardinia, World Heritage Site.
And for all lovers of hiking, however, there is the mining path of Santa Barbara, a beautiful path along 400 kilometers to walk or mountain bike!
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Why to visit Iglesias?
The name Iglesias comes from Spanish and means “churches”; not surprisingly, this place from the glorious past, especially during the Catalan-Spanish ruleAragonese, was a favorite center for the celebration of the rites of Holy Week with shapes and colors typical of the Spanish tradition.
Among the most beautiful churches deserve particular attention the Cathedral of Santa Chiara, the Madonna delle Grazie, the Church of the College and San Francesco, among the most significant Gothic-Catalan buildings in Sardinia.
Another important stop is the ruins of San Salvatore, among the few cruciform buildings of the Byzantine era.
In addition to the mining trail of Santa Barbara mentioned above, another experience to live includes participation in the medieval historical parade: it takes place every year in August, among musicians, flag bearers and participants in traditional clothes that parade through the historic districts.
Mines have played a fundamental role in the economy and wealth of Iglesias, so even today this tradition is widely celebrated especially through its museums, such as the Museum of Mining Art, housed in the Asproni Institute, and the Museum of Machines.
Those who wish, can fully discover how the mining activity took place by participating in the guided tours in Monteponi, Masua and Porto Flavia; at the same time, you can visit the three kilometers of beach in Porto Paglia, the stacks of Masua and Pan di Zucchero, a natural monument 132 meters high, as well as the beach of Porto Flavia and the Grand Canal of Nebida.
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What to eat in Porto Flavia
As well as in all of Sardinia, in Iglesias you can enjoy typical dishes, simple and delicious at the same time. Some dishes are linked to specific holidays, others instead to seasonal ingredients but they are all united by a long gastronomic tradition characterized by the genuineness of the raw materials often zero kilometer.
Despite the passage of time, the love of cooking on the part of the Sardinian people has never gone away, indeed, it has always tried to pass on the most significant recipes to make them arrive to the present day. That’s why, after visiting the main attractions of the place, you should enjoy at least one of the following dishes:
- culurgiones, ravioli filled with fresh Sardinian cheese, spinach and saffron;
- The malloreddus simple and delicious gnocchetti excellent with meat sauces;
- cascà, which comes from the Tunisian couscous, made from chickpeas, processed semolina and cabbage (or cauliflower);
- the doughnuts, round, swollen and fluffy pancakes fried in seed oil and then rolled into granulated sugar.
Do not forget, then, the many excellent wines, since the province of Carbonia-Iglesias offers really sublime labels. Among the red wines are Cannonau, Carignano and Monica, while among the white wines Nuragus, Vermentino and Vernaccia, a fortified wine excellent at the end of a meal.
Copertina: mybestplace
