From Cantoniera 49 FMS to Normann Village (D-515)

Validation level Percorribile

More infos

General rating

There are no opinions yet

Based on 0 opinions

0 Reviews - view all

Trail summary

Path lenght 600 m

Time lenght 30 minutes

Difficulty level More infos sui gradi di difficoltà Intermediate-high difficulty (E-level)

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

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 (*) of the San Giovanni Mining Concession. The hazards are the presence of some mining waste dumps. Outside the route there are also tunnels, 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 way, do not handle any material from the nearby mining waste dumps. Do not approach/access mine ruins or unfenced mining structures. DO NOT RELY ONLY ON THIS INFORMATION to plan your excursion. We recommended that you always contact authorised guides or experts of the area to guide you along the trail if you are not familiar with the places.

Trail details

This short path, less than 1 km in length, can be covered in about 20 minutes and is one of the shortest in the Gonnesa municipality of the ‘Normann network’; it connects the former railway track of the Southern Sardinia Railway (Ferrovie Meridionali della Sardegna, FMS), today Trail 513, with the Normann village (near Villa Stefani). The intermediate stop point is at the Normann springs-watering troughs.

Intersections with other Normann Network routes

At the starting point of Trail 515 (near the FMS Cantoniera (service building) No. 49) the trail intersects with Trail 513 (which starts at Funtana Coperta and reaches Gonnesa)
at the springs-watering troughs, with Trail 511 (from the San Giovanni Mine to Gonnesa, intermediate stop point Laveria Vecchia (Ore processing plant))
in the centre of Villaggio Normann, with Trail 512 (from Normann to Gonnesa, intermediate stop point Villaggio Seddas Moddizzis).

Normann Village

This hamlet is named after the engineer who discovered an important mining deposit here in the late 19th century. With the advent of new mining techniques, the San Giovanni mine moved further downhill and in the first two decades of the 20th century the site was used to build accommodation for the mine’s overseers and managers. At present, the village is inhabited by some 20 families, who care for it and organise cultural and environmental initiatives, while waiting for public intervention to renovate and reuse the old abandoned buildings.

Roadbook

The trail branches off from trail 513 at the site of the old railway service building (Cantoniera No. 49), climbing up a short section traced across a tailings pile.