The southwest of Sardinia is characterized by the mountains of the Iglesiente divided by a fertile lowland that opens to the east to the Campidano and in the west to the region of the Sulcis. There are two larger islands, the Isola di Sant'Antioco and the Isola di San Pietro to the southwest of Sardinia. The mountaneous parts are difficult to access therefore the main towns can be found in the plains (Iglesias, Carbonia), or on the coast (Sant'Antioco, Carloforte) and only a few in the mountains (Fluminimaggiore north of Iglesias, Santadi and Teulada to the south). Because of the mountains of the Iglesiente the coast on the further westside of Sardinia is only reachable by long roads that curve around the mountain tops. The more accessible coast is that around the Bay of Cagliari because it is near the capital of Sardinia and it is the favorite coast for most tourists in the south of Sardinia, second to the famous Costa Smeralda in the north.

The mountains of the Iglesiente in the north

The landscape around the temple
of Antas. The Fluminese

The thinly inhabited range of mountains has only one road through it that from Guspini winds up the steep sides to the highlands around Arbus and further to Fluminimaggiore and Iglesias (on the map section 1). This road was known from the times of the romans and passes also through the valley where the Punic-Roman temple of Antas was erected. The landscape is typical of the macchia mediterranea with pastures and woodlands (mediterranean oak). The highest peak on the Monte Linas is 1236 metres called Punta Perda de sa Mesa.

Although the coast is difficult to reach there are some of the finest beaches that only have been discovered in the past two decennia by the visitors of Sardinia (Torre dei Corsari, Costa Verde). On the road to these beaches lies the mineworkers village of Montevecchio where several lead and zinc mines were, now abandoned.

Map of the southwest of Sardinia: Sulcis and Iglesiente

1: Iglesiente - Arburese and Fluminese
2: Islands of San Pietro, Sant‘Antioco and the Sulcis
3: The coast of Pula and Chia to Capo Spartivento
(source: Map info from Tele Atlas and Google Maps.)

Sulcis and Sant'Antioco

The sea between the islands of Sant'Antioco, San Pietro and the mainland is rich fishing water. It was the main economic activity in the past. (map section 2). This was the case for tuna, visible in the many tonnare no longer in use, but also for the shellfish, most notably the Pinna Nobilis, now a protected species. From the Pinna Nobilis the fishermen obtained the byssus and there is a little museum at Sant'Antioco dedicated to the products derived from the byssus.

The region of the Sulcis and the Iglesiente is reknowned for the mines where since antiquity metals were won from the minerals. Some of the mines have passages that reach to the coast where the sides stand steep in the sea. Here ships were loaded directly with the minerals through the openings in the mountainside. Of particular natural beauty is the small island, the scoglio Pan di Zucchero, that stands out in sea like a piece of mountain cut neatly away from the rest.

Pula and Torre di Chia

The coast of southwest Sardinia: Nora

Pula, Santa Margherita di Pula and Chia are favorites amongst many tourists, not only because it is easily reached from Cagliari, but also because of the beautiful beaches and magnificent coastline with every range of blue in it, down to Capo Spartivento and beyond, the Costa del Sud (on the map section 3). The many spanish towers are often points of reference, used often in the placenames and names of the beaches (Torre di Chia). Not only in our own times we appreciate the natural beauty of the island, already in ancient times Phoenicians, Punics and Romans preferred these coasts to settle, specifically at Nora.

The coast from Chia down to Capo Spartivento is characterized by the small stagni (lagoons or ponds), barred from the sea by the sand of the beaches. In these salty waters you will find many flamingo's. Beaches, some small, some larger, are enclosed by rocky hillsides and sanddunes that have been formed by the wind. The macchia growing on the hills is the ideal habitat for birds and small mamals, and ofcourse the many bees when the macchia is in flower in the spring (may-june).