PORTO FLAVIA AND PAN DI ZUCCHERO

The Porto Flavia mine, inside the promontory that dominates Masua, in the territory of Iglesias, in the south west of Sardinia, was built between 1922 and 1924, to allow the direct loading of the minerals, extracted along the promontory tunnels. and intended for North European foundries. This work significantly reduced the time and costs of transporting minerals.

The director Cesare Vecelli designed the unprecedented engineering masterpiece. At the ‘port’ he gave the name of his daughter, Flavia, who stands out on the medieval-style tower at the entrance to the tunnel.

The small beach of Porto Flavia, with a surrounding green pine forest, stands alongside the remains of the mining structure. From here the view will captivate you towards the deep blue of the sea, until you keep your gaze on the pure white of the mighty stacks of Pan di Zucchero.

Pan di Zucchero is one of the most impressive and spectacular natural monuments on the island, a symbol of the Iglesias coast. The name derives from the similarity with the famous Pão de Açúcar of the bay of Rio de Janeiro. It is easily accessible by rubber dinghy or by boat from the magnificent inlet of Masua, a coastal fraction of the Iglesiente two and a half kilometers away. Climbing enthusiasts, with equipment and the support of specialized guides, can climb its 133 meters: it is the highest stack in the Mediterranean. Sugar Loaf has a massive and rounded shape. Karst phenomena have pierced its surface (about four hectares) with flat steps, generating two tunnel-shaped caves.