Carreggio variant 190 (D-512A)

Validation level Percorribile

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Trail summary

Path lenght 300 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

Trail description

The 512-A variant is a less than 1-km-long connecting path, which can be covered in about ten minutes, created on the ballast of the ore minecart track (at a constant elevation of 190 m asl). In the Normann network, this variant connects Trails 511 and 512, both of which lead directly uphill to the summit of Monte San Giovanni, on the west and east side of the mountain respectively.

This is an easy short walk, suitable for pleasant strolls around the Normann Village. The trail runs parallel to the similar variant 511-A, which instead uses the walking surface of the minecart track located at 330 m asl: indeed, the two trails, in the past equipped with tracks on which ore wagons pulled by horses or mules ran, were connected by a ropeway conveyor that supplied two beautiful stone hoppers, still present on this trail, used to load the wagons downstream.

WARNING: ROUTE IS PENDING REGISTRATION

As of May 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 Concession. The hazards along this route are the presence of a mine shaft, which has however been secured. Outside the route there are mining waste dumps, tunnels, more mine shafts and excavations, with the risk of material collapse, rockfalls, falling inside the mine shafts or excavations, and ingestion of or skin contact with 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 risk factors in mind. Do not stray from the marked path, due to the presence of the above-mentioned dangers. 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.

Intersections with other Normann Network routes

with Trail 511 (from San Giovanni Miniera to Gonnesa) on the minecart track’s west side.
with Trail 512 (from the Normann Village to Gonnesa) on the minecart track’s east side.

Roadbook

You can take this short connecting trail, immersed in the wood, from the Normann belvedere in an easterly direction (from the fork with Trail 511) or in a westerly direction (Trail 512) and can be used to head towards the San Giovanni mine or, having reached the Normann-San Giovanni mining road, to go back to the village.