discover with us the mining archaeology of Sardinia
Archaeological Trip to Porto Flavia e Masua
If you are looking for a must-see excursion in Sardinia to make your holidays unforgettable
YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!
Yes, planning holidays is often hard. The time available and the budget always seem to not be enough, choosing where and what to do safely can become stressful, but don’t worry:
you are in the right place, at the right time!
INSIDESARDINIAGUIDE IS AT YOUR DISPOSAL
Thanks to our expert guides we have chosen for you
Archaeological Trip to Porto Flavia e Masua
With your Inside Sardinia Guide you will discover villages where people are still earning a living through agriculture, farming and handcrafting; where time seems to pass more slowly and the chaos of the city is just a hallucination!
With our excursions you will travel through time hearing stories and tales of a unique land, and taste the flavors and wines of an ancient island:
TRAVEL SAFETY WITH US
During your next vacation, you will forget the routine, you will be led by the nature of our land, you will return home with renewed energy.
Discover Sardinia through friendly locals, iconic landscapes and legendary experiences.
Endless vistas, unique wildlife, hills, mountains and trees: dive into the wilds of Sardinia from the comfort of your private car.
Are you traveling alone, as a couple or are you a group or a family?
Well don’t waste any more time:
choose among our offers the one that suits you, and make it yours:
UNFORGETTABLE HOLIDAYS IN SARDINIA
Word of insidesardiniaguide
Contact us!
we will be happy to answer your questions
Traveling is something individual that each traveler builds as they prefer.
Why choose an Archaeological Trip to Porto Flavia e Masua?
- It is an immersive journey in the Sardinian south west, one of the wildest, most authentic and least known areas of Sardinia, in contact with the locals and flavours of the oldest land in Italy.
- Explore spectacular views of the UNESCO World Heritage area, one of the most highly concentrated areas of mining history in Italy; beautiful cliffs and ruins of abandoned mining buildings, reflected in the blue and wild sea.
- The beauty of the place in contrast with the harshness of the mining history built on effort and sacrifice.
- You’ll be thrilled to hear the hard history of this place, told by a guide born in this mining area, who grew up living and hearing the tales of the miners. After the guided tour we will enjoy an aperitivo in a panoramic position facing the sea.
- The south-west coast of Sardinia is one of the most authentic and least known areas of the island.
- It is the most ancient land in Italy: you will see 560 million year old rocks overlooking a blue sea.
- It is a little urbanized area in which to enjoy the wild nature in contact with the locals.
- You will forget the busy life and be fascinated by the beauty of the coasts and the clearness of the Sardinian sea.
- All our excursions are guaranteed by our highly specialized staff, mindful of your safety, and we will be with you from the very first moment; to make your experience truly unique.
- We offer guided tour services in English and in Spanish.
- You will be joined, not by a simple local guide but by an archaeologist specialized in Sardinia’s prehistory.
- You will broaden your cultural background.
“dialoghi archeologici”
When is it best to visit Masua and Porto Flavia Nora?
Porto Flavia can be visited in any season. Inside the tunnel you can enjoy a mild temperature, both in the hottest hours of summer and in the coldest days of winter..
Book now Archaeological Trip to Porto Flavia e Masua
give yourself an unforgettable trip to Sardinia
Which kind of clothing is recommended for your visit?
Clothing should be chosen primarily in relation to the season.
As a rule, you can follow the good old principle of dressing in layers and wearing comfortable footwear.
Are there any special bans for visitors?
Due to the restricted spaces within the site, unfortunately pets are not allowed inside the Porto Flavia tunnel.
Is the archaeological site of Masua accessible to the disabled?
It is accessible for disabled people in wheelchairs: upon request, the entrance to the site can be reached by car.
Are there tourist and restaurant services?
In the archaeological site there is a coffee area. Nearby there are restaurants that serve typical food.
Is there a minimum number of participants for the tour?
There is no minimum number of participants. The maximum number is 8 people. For more than 8 people it is necessary to rent a minibus with driver, to guarantee the transfer.
What payment methods do you accept for archaeological trip?
Bank transfer, cash, paypal.
What can you add to the visit to Masua and Porto Flavia?
To make your journey between sea and mines even more exciting, a boat trip along the wonderful Buggerru coast can be combined.
To enrich your curiosity, we recommend a visit to the nearby temple of Antas or a lunch on a farm to appreciate the exquisite local cuisine characterized by a perfect combination of sea and land.
It is also possible to combine one of our experiences with a visit to the vineyard and tasting of local wines, including, in particular, the one produced from the millennial Carignano grape.
Details of private tour
Details of private tour: 4 hours
Difficulty: mediaum
Additional services: Transfer
Itinerary:
- Viewpoint of Nebida and laveria la Marmora
- Porto Flavia tunnel and Masua mine
OPTIONAL:
- boat excursion
- visit to the temple of Antas
- panoramic tour of the coast
where we are
Masua is an old mining town that rises 95 meters above sea level, part of the municipality of Iglesias, in the southern province of Sardinia, in the Sulcis-Iglesiente subregion.
Duration of the guided tour: 4 hours
Difficulty: medium
Additional services: Transfer
Itinerary:
- Viewpoint of Nebida and laveria la Marmora
- Porto Flavia tunnel and Masua mine
OPTIONAL:
- boat excursion
- visit to the temple of Antas
- panoramic tour of the coast
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPERIENCES
Make the visit to a more experimental historical site combining it with one of our “Experiences” where you will be the protagonist: this will make the day even more complete and exciting.
choosing
Archaeological Trip to Porto Flavia e Masua
you will discover
How do we know that this land is the oldest in Italy?
Because the rocks are the oldest in Italy. Rocks from the Cambrian, around 560 million years old.ia.
Who was Flavia?
The daughter of the engineer Vecelli who in 1924 created this great work.
Vecelli surveyed the coasts of Masua, and found the perfect spot high in the cliffs in front of the Pan di Zucchero stack.
Here, the sea was deep enough for ships and well-protected from wind and waves to allow a safe mooring, while the ore could be loaded directly from the cliffs.
Where we can see the contrast between beauty of the place and roughness of the history?
Porto Flavia is a masterpiece of mining engineering, unique in the world, with a terrace overlooking the sea in an exciting environmental context and in front of the highest Mediterranean sea stack: the Pan di Zucchero.
The miners life was a hard one. They worked long hours for low wages. The potential dangers were always there for them and their families.
This created close comradeship and tight knit mining communities.
Working conditions in the mining industry with its inherent dangers were at their worst during the 19th century.
Increased demands for lead and zinc led to massive expansion and a search for richer deposits.
Bigger, deeper pits brought new hazards to the miner who risked life and limb everyday whilst working in confined spaces breathing in stale air and dust.
Which famous poet came to visit Masua in 1882?
Gabriele d’Annunzio visiting in 1882, a few years before the construction of Porto Flavia, wrote:
“Escono quasi carponi dalle strette aperture, come Esquimesi di sotto il ghiaccio: sono uomini pieni di cenci e di sudiciume, dal viso terreo, con gli occhi arrossati nel tormento delle polvere, con i capelli incolti;
…sono bimbi rachitici, col viso per lo più chiazzato di croste, con gli stinchi fiacchi, senza un lampo ilare nella pupilla, senza uno strillo di gioia in bocca, senza un impeto libero in cuore.”
Those who travel with me are an active part and make their own contribution to each experience, with their own character and personality