Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sun winter)
, an impressive Roman temple set in bucolic scenery. The 3rd-century temple
was built by the Roman emperor Caracalla over a 6th-century-BC Punic sanctuary, which
itself stood over an earlier
nuraghic
settlement. From near the ticket office a path marked
Antica Strada Romana, Antas Su Mannau
leads to what little remains of this settlement.
Walk another 1½ hours along the path to the
Grotta de Su Mannau
(
www.sumannau.it
;
adult/re-
duced €10/8; 9.30am-6.30pm summer, to 5.30pm winter)
, an 8km-long cave complex with in-
credible rock formations.
About 10km east of Iglesias, the unremarkable town of
Domusnovas
sits at the centre of
one of Sardinia's most exciting rock-climbing areas. The outlying country side is
peppered with limestone rocks, cliffs and caves, many of which are ideal for sports climb-
ing. For technical information, check out
www.climb-europe.com
and
Four kilometres north of town, the 850m-long
Grotta di San Giovanni
is an impressive
sight. Eight daily buses connect Iglesias and Domusnovas (€1.50, 15 minutes).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Iglesiente Coast
Iglesias' local beach is at
Funtanamare
(also spelt Fontanamare), about 8km west of town.
From Funtanamare, the SP83 coastal road affords spectacular views as it dips, bends and
climbs its way northward. Dominating the seascape off
Nebida
, 5.5km to the north, is the
133m-high
Scoglio Pan di Zucchero
(Sugarloaf Rock), the largest of several
faraglioni
(sea
stacks) that rise out of the glassy blue waters. A small and rather drab village, Nebida is a
former mining settlement sprawled along the road high above the sea. Near its southern
entrance,
Pan di Zucchero
( 0781 4 71 14;
www.hotelpandizucchero.it
; Via Centrale 365; s/d/tr €50/
70/94, half-board per person €70)
is a family-run
pensione
with neat, modestly furnished rooms
and a panoramic restaurant (meals €30 to €35).
A few kilometres north,
Masua
is another former mining centre. Seen from above, it
looks pretty ugly, but it's not without interest. The main draw is the town's unique mining
port,
Porto Flavia
( 0781 491 300; adult/reduced €8/4.50; by appointment)
. In 1924 two
600m tunnels were dug into the cliffs. In the lower of the two, a conveyor belt received
zinc and lead ore from the underground deposits and transported it via an ingenious mo-
bile loading arm directly to the ships moored below.
