The territory
Sulcis Iglesiente is a geographical area located in the extreme south-west of the Sardinia and famous for its ancient origins and traditions. Already inhabited 5,000 years ago, the area was privileged above all by the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians who were the first to discover the rich mineral deposits present in the subsoil and began to exploit them.
Largely abandoned in the following centuries, these deposits now constitute a significant testimony of industrial archeology, so much so that they have been included in the Tentative List UNESCO.
As the name itself says, Sulcis Iglesiente includes the territory of Sulcis and that of Iglesiente: the first takes its name from the ancient Punic city of Sulcis, today Sant'Antioco; the second is named after Iglesias, its capital and main city.
Sulcis Iglesiente includes the 23 municipalities of the province of Carbonia-Iglesias and 4 municipalities in the province of Cagliari .
Sea and nature
Wild and uncontaminated landscapes characterize this Sardinian territory, from the Sulcis Natural Park to the famous Pan di Zucchero near Iglesias, from the pine forest of Porto Pino to the Gulf of Palmas, from the salt pans of Sant'Antioco to the Island of San Pietro, called the "green island "For its luxuriant nature.
Lovers of the sea and nature can take a bath, or simply a walk, in the gulf of Gonnesa, with its crystal clear waters or on the splendid beach of Portixeddu, a favorite destination for surfers. In fact, there are many water sports that can be practiced in the region: kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving, sailing: frequent activities in the area, full of winds.
But it is above all the hinterland to tell the ancient and noble past that makes this region special.
Archaeological sites
The numerous archaeological sites and Nuragic, Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine finds make Sulcis Iglesiente a true paradise for history buffs. For example in Seruci (Gonnesa, province of Carbonia-Iglesias) there is an ancient Nuragic palace. In Villaperuccio, in the Montessu area, there is the most important necropolis of domus de janas - the so-called "fairy houses" or "witches" - in southern Sardinia: these are ancient tombs, carved into the rock, which date back to 5000 years ago about. Many sites collect evidence of the Punic settlement in the region, such as the Phoenician fortress of Pani Loriga near Santadi and, above all, the city of Sant'Antioco, formerly Sulcis, which also collects numerous finds from later periods.
Nearby
Not far from Carbonia we will find the archaeological site of Monte Sirai, where a fortified Punic center was built on an ancient nuragic settlement later also used by the Romans. Monte Sirai is, in fact, a real open-air archaeological museum, divided into different visit routes. Finally, among the other noteworthy places, the archaeological area of Antas hosts numerous temples and testimonies including the majestic Punic-Roman temple built on the remains of a Carthaginian place of worship.
Products
Between a visit to a Carthaginian temple, a walk in a mining park, a boat ride and a swim in the sea, visitors will be able to taste the gastronomic delicacies of the region, such as tuna, oil, pecorino, artichoke and honey, accompanied by a good glass of Carignano DOC del Sulcis. Finally, lovers of crafts will not want to leave without having brought with them at least one example of the beautiful tapestries, carpets, jewels and knives that a millenary tradition of textile spinning and metalworking knows how to produce with great skill.