The idea of constructing a itinerary in the most extensive and representative area of the Historical and Environmental Geomining Park of Sardinia, the southwest of Sardinia, rediscovering ancient mining paths today largely abandoned, came to the volunteers of the ONLUS “Pozzo Sella Association for the Geo-mining Park”, following the great participation of citizens in the excursions organized by the same Association after having made numerous mining routes accessible.

The Pozzo Sella Association was was born on 5 November 2001, in the underground mine shaft “Pozzo Sella” of the Monteponi Mine, at the end of a political battle that led to the foundation of the  Historical-Environmental Geo-mining Park of Sardinia.

The aim of the association is to contribute to the development of the Geo-Mining Park, the enhancement of the disused mining areas of Sardinia, the involvement of young people and also the identification of job opportunities within the Park itself.

With the Mining Trail of Santa Barbara we want to pursue the goal of handing down the memory of the men who, over the past centuries and millennia, have built and walked the ancient mining paths with the pleasure of rediscovering the beauty of this territory at a slow pace.

Following the signing of a Protocol Agreement between the Municipalities of Iglesias, Buggerru, Fluminimaggiore, Arbus, Guspini, Gonnosfanadiga, Villacidro, Domusnovas, Musei, Villamassargia. Narcao, Nuxis, Santadi, Piscinas, Giba, Masainas, San Giovanni Suergiu, Sant’Antioco, Carbonia e Gonnesa, the dioceses of Iglesias and Ales Terralba, the Provinces of Carbonia-Iglesias and Medio Campidano, the Consortium of Sardinia’s Historical-Environmental Geo-Mining Park, ANCI SARDEGNA (The National Association of Italian Mayors) and the Pozzo Sella Association, a Partnership Program has been founded for the construction and management of the historical, cultural, environmental and religious itinerary called “Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara”.

Thanks to the support of the signatories of the protocol and to the contribution, passion and commitment of the many volunteers, an extraordinary job of research and fieldwork was started in order to define the itinerary, the necessary interventions for its restoration, the guidelines for the definitive signage and the installation of the provisional one, the inventory of the patrimony along the itinerary, and everything else needed to organise a walk.