You will walk outside the industrial area of Portovesme and immerse yourself in the ancient maritime culture of this territory which, thanks to fishing and tuna processing, has generated a centuries-old history that is still alive today and that is the source of an extraordinary gastronomic tradition.

With this new and unique stage of the Trail, in addition to walking easily on dry land, you will cross a short stretch of sea by ferry to discover the indelible traces of the infrastructures and of the men (railways, depots, berths for boats and ports for steamships) that for a century ensured the transport of merchant minerals produced in the mines of the south-western coast of Sardinia.

ATTENTION: there are no supermarkets or other services in Portixeddu, bars and restaurants are open only in the summer season.

Safety and useful tips

The route begins along the streets of Nuraxi Figus, where you need to pay attention to the presence of urban traffic.

Afterwards, you will walk through easy internal dirt roads until you reach Sa Piramide, where you must cross the SP 82 road and proceed for about 500 m. Pay close attention to the presence of cars.

As you pass Monte Dolorosu with its commemorative cross, you need to cross the SP 108 road, therefore pay attention when crossing.

Once in Portoscuso, you have to walk through the town streets to reach the embarkation point in Portovesme, therefore you need to pay attention to urban traffic.

Once embarked to reach Carloforte, follow the ship's safety rules during the crossing.

As you arrive in Carloforte, be aware of the presence of urban traffic.

Another new stage that at the end of the day will take you back to the mother island after a leisurely walk around the island of San Pietro to discover its extraordinary historical and cultural heritage linked to the economy of the sea, particularly tuna fishing and the transport of minerals.

However, the real surprises of this small island, which was inhabited by Genoese people for almost 300 years, are its natural jewels and its ancient zero-kilometre gastronomic tradition based on products of the sea and the land.

Safety and useful tips

After passing through the town of Carloforte, where you should pay attention to urban traffic, proceed northwards by following the coast. The stretch from P.ta Du Din, the northern pier of the harbour, runs along the Canalfondo Beach, which has been eroded by sea storms. For this reason, if the sea is rough, it is advisable to pass inland along the asphalted road towards Tacca Rossa, in the direction of the Sea Museum formerly belonging to the Galanzieri family (closed).

As you go past the Tacca Rossa Beach, you have to walk along the coast on a very narrow passage. In the event of a sea storm, also in this case you must follow the internal roads in order to reach the Tonnara La Punta.

Afterwards, you will travel along internal roads to return to the urban centre of Carloforte, therefore make sure to pay attention to the presence of vehicular traffic.

Once you leave Carloforte to pass through the saltworks, you need to pay attention to the crossings along the route.

When embarking for Portovesme-Portoscuso, make sure to follow the ship's safety rules.

From the culture and economy of the sea, you will return to the land of mines by walking along the spectacular volcanic cliffs of the south-west coast to reach the Bacu Abis mine, where mining activity began in the Sulcis coal basin.

While admiring the beauty of the coastal landscape, with a panorama reaching as far as the limestone cliffs of Masua, you will move from the industrial archaeology of the Seruci mine to the classical archaeology of the Nuragic settlement with the same name, retracing 3,500 years of history in just a few kilometres.

Safety and useful tips

The first part of the route runs through the centre of Portoscuso, so you need to pay attention to the presence of urban vehicular traffic. As you leave Capo Altano and the Portoscuso Pine Forest, there's a stretch that passes above the cliffs in the areas of Bucca de Flumini and Capo Giordano. The passage, although quiet and comfortable, presents an exposed part towards the cliff, therefore you must pay attention not to lean out and always stay at a distance from the edge of the cliff. After this suggestive stretch, you need to cross the SP 108 road, therefore it is necessary to pay attention to the presence of vehicular traffic. After passing the archaeological site of Nuraghe Seruci, you will reach once again the SP 108, on which you have to proceed for about 2.3 km in the direction of Terras Collu. Pay attention to vehicular traffic and try to proceed as much as possible on the embankment flanking the roadway. Upon arriving in the area of Terras Collu, as you go past the ruins of the Church of San Rocco, you need to cross the SP 126 road, therefore you must pay close attention to vehicular traffic. At the roundabout that leads to Bacu Abis, pay attention to the next crossing that you need to take in order to visit the Castoldi Palace. As you reach Bacu Abis, you have to walk through the roads of the village, therefore once again you need to pay attention to urban traffic.

The stage is long, so prepare yourself properly.

With this last stage, you will return to the starting point of the entire Trail.

Over 40% of the route runs along the railway tracks from Iglesias to Calasetta and from Monteponi to Portovesme.

The alternative route towards Seddas Moddizzis, which lengthens the stage by about 9.5 km, allows to visit a remarkable example of industrial archaeology, including the San Giovanni mine, from whose galleries you can access the splendid Santa Barbara cave.

A further alternative is to cover the last 2.3 km of the stage following the route of the ancient procession from Monteponi to Iglesias.

Safety and useful tips

From the Church of Santa Barbara in Bacu Abis, you have to proceed through the village of Gonnesa, where you need to pay attention to urban traffic.

Then, before arriving in the hamlet of Bindua, you have to follow the route of the old, disused FMS railway, where you will cross a series of passages on the old railway that are exposed to falling on one side. In this section of the route, it is recommended that you always follow the route and do not lean towards the exposed parts.

As you arrive in the outskirts of Iglesias in the area of Cabizza, the route leads to a dirt road that enters the urban area and becomes Via Amelia Melis de Villa. In this stretch of the stage, you must pay attention to vehicular traffic.

For those who wish to try out the alternative route, remember that the stage becomes long and challenging, therefore prepare yourself accordingly.

This is a short itinerary, but of great naturalistic and technical value. Good driving skills are required for the long stony descent from an altitude of 1060 m to an altitude of 700 m. The soil is granitic, washed out, resulting in many deep furrows, loose stone and gravelly and sandy surfaces. Plan the hike with caution, always bearing in mind your abilities and available time, because at high altitudes a change in the weather can become problematic if it catches you in a precarious condition. Adding to the sporting value of the itinerary is the historical interest with the Pedras Fitas menhirs in the stream valley and the domus de janas of Sos Forros. The latter are in a state of disrepair, partially buried, yet they are easily recognisable and worth a visit.