Iglesias and the Sulcis-Iglesiente Region
The Historical Region of Iglesiente
The Iglesiente comprises the western portion of the Sulcis-Iglesiente historical region, corresponding to the ancient Sigerro curatoria. It is characterized by pristine mountain landscapes, deep cave systems, and a rich metallurgical history.
Overview of Iglesias
Iglesias (Igrèsias in Sardinian) is a historic mining, commercial, and industrial center nestled between plains and hills in the southern part of the South Sardinia province. Often called the “City of a Hundred Churches” due to its dense array of medieval places of worship, it serves as the episcopal see inheriting the historic Diocese of Sulcis.
Origins & History: The name Iglesias derives from the Latin Ecclesia (“churches”). Inhabited since prehistoric times (San Michele di Ozieri domus de janas), the city was founded in the late 13th century as Villa Ecclesiae by Count Ugolino della Gherardesca of Donoratico, who invited Tuscan master builders to revive local silver mining. Ugolino codified the city’s administration and mining laws in the famous legal code known as the Breve di Villa di Chiesa. Following Pisan and Aragonese rule (achieving Città Regia status in 1327), Iglesias experienced a massive 19th-century economic revival driven by the reopening of regional mines.
Key Sites & Cultural Highlights:
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Cathedral of Santa Chiara (Cattedrale di Santa Chiara): Built in Romanesque-Gothic style between 1284 and 1388 under the direction of podestás Guidone de Sentate and Pietro Canino. It features a medieval two-tier facade with a rose window, a 14th-century bell tower, star-vaulted star chapels, and historically housed the relics of Saint Antiochus.
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Church of San Francesco: Built in late Catalan-Gothic style, featuring a red trachyte facade, a rose window, a 14th-century cloister, a Pisan tower, and the Vergine polyptych by Antioco Mainas.
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Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine di Valverde: A 13th-century sanctuary associated with the Carmelite/Capuchin traditions, noted as a place where Saint Ignatius of Laconi lived and prayed in the 18th century.
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Medieval City Walls: A well-preserved circuit of 13th-century Pisan defensive walls and gate towers surrounding the historic center.
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Mining Art Museum (Museo dell’Arte Mineraria): Located on the ground floor of the historic Giorgio Asproni Technical Mining Institute, showcasing historical machinery and a 400-meter underground training gallery.
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Monteponi Mine & Bellavista Palace: One of Sardinia’s largest historical mining complexes, featuring the elegant 1865 Palazzo Bellavista, extensive processing plants, and a Red Mud decantation basin (fanghi rossi).
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Santa Barbara Cave (Grotta di Santa Barbara): Discovered in 1952 inside the San Giovanni mining tunnel, containing an elliptical subterranean chamber completely encrusted with rare brown barite crystals, aragonite, and calcite formations.
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Porto Flavia & Pan di Zucchero: An engineering marvel built in 1924 by engineer Cesare Vecelli, featuring tunnels carved directly into the seaside cliffs to load ore straight onto cargo ships via conveyor belts opposite the towering 132-meter limestone sea stack of Pan di Zucchero.