Panoramic variant of Carreggio 330 (D-511A)

Validation level Percorribile

More infos

General rating

There are no opinions yet

Based on 0 opinions

0 Reviews - view all

Trail summary

Path lenght 400 m

Time lenght 15 minutes

Difficulty level More infos sui gradi di difficoltà Easy-medium difficulty, for tourists (T)

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

The 511/A variant is a half-km-long connecting path, which can be walked in about ten minutes, created on the ballast of the ore minecart track that connects the two direct uphill paths from the Normann Village to the peak of Monte San Giovanni. This is a highly recommended trail for its stunning landscape and the view of the entire Iglesias valley, especially the Normann Village below. Whether you are following Trail 511 or Trail 512, this short connecting trail is certainly worth exploring as you will find here old tunnels, stone retaining walls, baryte outcrops and the ruins of the arrival station of a ropeway conveyor, used until the early 1900s to transport ore down to the valley. The path is mostly level. If you wish, you can close a loop towards Normann, without going too far along the main routes.

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. 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.

Risk factors to watch out for

The route does not cross areas owned by IGEA (*) but is nevertheless within the San Giovanni Mining Concession. The hazards present along the route and in the surrounding areas are linked to the presence of excavations. In particular, the route skirts part of the outer perimeter of a fenced excavation, and closed off mine entrances. Hazards found outside the trail are the mining waste dumps, tunnels, 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

Keep the above risk factors in mind. Do not stray from the marked path. Along the route, do not go near, force open or tamper with the fences and gates around mine buildings or mine sites.

Intersections with other Normann Network routes

with Trail 511 (from San Giovanni Miniera to Gonnesa).
with Trail 512 (from Villaggio Normann to Gonnesa).

Roadbook

The path is almost level. If you wish, you can close a loop towards Normann, without going too far along the main routes, using Trails 511 and 512 to go from west to east.