Covering approximately 3.800 square kilometers, the Geomineral Historical and Environmental Park of Sardinia encompasses several areas of the island, from the mountains of the interior to the coast. Its vast territory—from the Arburese to the Guspinese, from Sulcis-Iglesiente to Campidano, from Sarrabus-Gerrei to Barbagia, all the way to Nurra and Gallura—encompasses millennia of mining activities and evidence of an industrial past, which have helped shape not only the economy but also the cultural, historical, environmental, and mining identity of the island.
The Park, established in 2001 and reformed in 2016, is tasked with protecting and enhancing a unique tangible and intangible heritage spanning over 8 years of mining activity, from the Neolithic period to the present day. A total of 86 municipalities fall within its scope.
Obsidian Samples – Conca'e Cannas, Masullas (Photo Stefano Sernagiotto PGSAS)
The mining sites are managed by several companies, businesses, or associations that can be contacted for excursions and guided tours. Alternatively, you can explore independently, either on foot along the many free or organized trails , such as the Santa Barbara Mining Trail, or by bicycle.
Funtana Raminosa Mine, Gadoni (Ph. R. Rizzo PGSAS)dedicated cycling routes. Sardinia was born as a large mineral deposit. Our territory boasts many mines, almost all now abandoned, where the mining history, which, within and of itself, carries the entire culture of the island, lives on. The Park's purpose is also to protect and enhance not only mining but also museum areas. Consider, for example, the mining sector, but also that of museums. The Park includes the municipality of Pau, with its Obsidian Museum, unique in Europe and second in the world after the Japanese one; the municipality of Masullas, with the Monte Arci “Stefano Incani” GeoMuseum; and the Conca 'e Cannas Park, which contains one of the most important concentrations of obsidian in the Mediterranean and of the highest quality. From an environmental perspective, the Park has also been entrusted with the task of scientifically and culturally enhancing Sardinia's more than 400 geological sites and natural monuments.
Ph. Stefano Senargiotto, the silversmith's village, Sassari
San Giovanni Mine, Santa Barbara Cave, Iglesias (Photo Alberto Monteverde PGSAS)The Park's jurisdiction over geosites also includes Asinara, Molentargius, Monte Arcosu and the UNESCO Mab (Man and Biosphere) Reserve of Tepilora, Rio Posada and Montalbo.
The Park is truly unique, with enormous cultural, historical, environmental, natural, and mining value.
