S. Giovanni Mine - Gonnesa (D-511)

Validation level Percorribile

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Trail summary

Path lenght 6.500 m

Time lenght 2 hours 15 minutes

Difficulty level More infos sui gradi di difficoltà For Experienced Hikers (EE)

Activities and warnings

Pathways Activities

Avvertenze e pericoli

The pathway

Normann trail network

Entirely created by volunteers, supported by the Forestas Agency and the Cagliari branch of CAI, this small network connects several miners’ villages: Monteponi, Monte Agruxiau and Monte Scorra, as well as Nebida, Bindua, San Giovanni Miniera and the beautiful Asproni Miners’ Village as well as Monte Onixeddu and the Normann Village itself. The network also connects a series of mining structures rich in history: Laveria Galletti, forno Sabatini, Pozzo Baccarini, Laveria vecchia, the extraordinary Santa Barbara shaft (also known as ‘Sa macchina beccia’) along a route disseminated with evidence of the area’s mining history (wells, tunnels, ropeway conveyors, decauville (animal-towed mining railway), tracks, chimneys, drinking troughs and stables for mine animals).

More than 40 km of cycling and hiking routes, ranging in difficulty from ‘tourist’ to ‘experienced hiker’, extending to the borders and mining remains of the territories of Gonnesa and Iglesias - extraordinary places with a wealth of geological, speleological, naturalistic but also archaeological (e.g. medieval mines) and anthropological heritage. A true ‘summary’ of the attractions offered by the Geo-mining, Historical and Environmental Park of Sardinia.

These routes will allow you to explore the places where thousands of workers lived in the 3 well-known villages: Normann was inhabited by managers and clerks (built in the early 1900s and already equipped with plumbing systems for water supply and waste water) - S.Giovanni miniera, the miners’ village, built by Gonnesa Mining Company Limited, Pertusola Limited (later taken over by Piombo Zincifera Sarda) and finally Bindua Ceramica, where other miners independently built very humble huts.

In the 1930s this whole landscape was completely barren, due to intensive mining exploitation that involved tree felling: today the holm oak wood has regained ground, strengthening the unstable slope, together with sparse Aleppo pine stands (from reforestation projects).

The territory

The territory of Normann lies on the slopes of Monte San Giovanni (formerly known as Monte Barlao). If offers a splendid diverse landscape, a gem brimming with old stories, which have reemerged thanks to the passion of the inhabitants of this small hamlet, with the logistical and financial support of the municipalities of Iglesias and Gonnesa. The Sardinia Trail Network (RES) is the thread that links together ancient routes, on which the miners used to walk to go to church, take the train, or go to town on their few free days. Some of the tails follow the old narrow-gauge FMS railway line that connected Calasetta to Gonnesa and Iglesias (Monteponi scalo). Part of this route is also shared with that created by the Santa Barbara Mining Trail Foundation, which forms part of the larger Sardinia Trail Network.

Special features

This hiking area is characterised by limestone formations, including limestone pavements (recalling on a smaller scale the formations in Supramonte). It offers expansive views ranging from Carloforte to the peaks of Gutturu Mannu, from the Linas-Marganai massif, to the plain of Cagliari... wonderful sights, which can only be fully appreciated in person.

Useful informations

WARNING: ROUTE IS PENDING REGISTRATION

As of April 2023, the operator managing this network is completing the installation of signs on the route. Final pre-registration checks are in progress.

Risk factors to watch out for

The route crosses areas owned by IGEA (*) and is within the San Giovanni Mining Concession. The hazards present along the route and in the surrounding areas are linked to the presence of storage facilities - mine waste dumps - within the San Giovanni Concession. Hazards found outside the trail are the mining waste dumps, the tunnels, the mine shafts and mining excavations. The risk factors related to these structures are: material collapse, rockfalls, falling inside the shafts or excavations, and ingestion or skin contact with the mine waste materials.
(*) After the Ente Minerario Sardo (Sardinia Mining Agency) was dissolved by Regional Law 33/1998, IGEA was appointed to manage the activities for the safety, environmental restoration and remediation of abandoned or soon to be closed mining areas and facilities, in accordance with the policies and guidance from its sole shareholder, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia (Department of Industry).

RULES OF CONDUCT TO BE OBSERVED DURING THE HIKE

Always keep the risk factors in mind. Do not stray from the marked path, due to the presence of the dangers linked to mine buildings such as: Mine shafts, tunnels, excavations and mine waste dumps.
Along the route, do not go near, force open or tamper with the fences and gates around mine buildings or mine sites.
DO NOT RELY ONLY ON THIS INFORMATION to plan your excursion. We recommended that you always contact authorised guides or people that know the territory to guide you along the trail if you are not familiar with the places.

Trail details

This route is not among the longest but surely is among the most challenging (also in terms of elevation gains, especially in the opposite direction, from Gonnesa) of the ‘Normann network’ and connects the San Giovanni Mine to the outskirts of Gonnesa (intermediate stop point: Laveria Vecchia- ore processing plant).
The starting point can be reached on foot or by car from State road SS 126 near Bindua: near the sign indicating the start of the route, on the municipal road about 200 m from the entrance to the San Giovanni Mine, there is a large gravel-surfaced area where you can park your car.

The route is easy in the first section because it runs on the old decauvilles, the old railway tracks on which horses and mules pulled wagons loaded with ore. Later on, the route becomes more challenging and exposed, and should therefore only be attempted by experienced hikers.

Intersections with other Normann Network routes

with variant-connecting Trail 513A (from Funtana Coperta to Laveria Vecchia - the old ore processing plant);
with Trail 514 (from the ‘minecart track at 120 m asl’ Laveria Vecchia to Is Guardianus);
with Trail 515 (from the Cantoniera no. 49 - the old FMS railway service building to Villaggio Normann, with an intermediate stop point at the springs-drinking troughs);
with variant 512/A (minecart track at 190 m asl);
with variant 511/A (minecart track 330 that joins Trails 511 and 512 on an old decauville with a short very panoramic section);
with variant 512/B (from Is Ollastus, which joins Trails 511 and 512 at the pass of the same name).

Roadbook

The trail starts south-west of the gravel-surfaced area where you can park you car, and follows a narrow path through the old gravel dumps, now colonised by a pine tree forest in the first part and an oak forest in the following stretch, walking west. The walk is cool and pleasant and runs parallel and above State road SS 126, which leads to Calasetta. After 610 m you will reach the Laveria Vecchia (old ore processing plant). Here, you can leave the main route by taking the 513/A variant (from Laveria Vecchia to Funtana Coperta) or Trail 514 (from minecart track 120 Laveria Vecchia to Is Guardianus).
WARNING: As there are many intersecting trails and variants, pay attention to the route markings and the trail numbers.