The Area of Sulcis - Iglesiente


The Sulcis district, which covers the south-west region of Sardinia, gets its name from the ancient
town of Sulci on the island of S.Antioco.

The Sulcis district was the first of the lands which look out onto the Mediterranean to emerge from the sea and is, therefore, a rich mining territory.
It is also one of the areas in Sardinia with the richest archaeological and cultural patrimony.

The region has been inhabited since the
VI millennium B.C., when man lived in primitive cave dwellings.
From the II millennium B.C. the Nuragic civilisation began to develop. Testimony to this era can be seen in the many Nuraghi, massive, megalithic, stone structures, which are scattered all over the island.
These monuments are built entirely from stone blocks
and are unique to Sardinia.

Since ancient times the inhabitants of the Sulcis district have always been linked to the exploitation of the numerous mineral deposits in the area. The Nuragic communities exploited ore deposits for the production of bronze instruments and various weapons, while the Phoenician-Punic colonies took advantage of the area's natural resources and traded with the extracted minerals.

The settlements of Sulci (S.Antioco)
and Monte Sirai (Carbonia), sprang up in this period around the ore deposits, which then later passed under Roman dominion.
Today visitors can still see great testimony to this latter period, such as aqueducts, amphitheatres and temples.

The history of the Sulcis district has, therefore, always been strictly linked to the exploitation of these mines, from ancient up to more recent times. Mining activity in the area reached a peak in 1938 as the Fascist Regime sought to increase the extraction of coal and, as a result, the town of Carbonia, was founded to cater for this rise in productivity.

The countryside offers landscapes of rare beauty, with old, abandoned mines immersed in wild environments, beaches, woods, mountains and grottoes, creating a harmonious blend of history, nature and archaeology.
The local handicraft is also of great interest, in particular the beautiful Sardinian rugs, for which the town of Villamassargia is especially well known. In addition, the knife production in Arbus and Guspini attracts collectors from all over the world.

However, the district of Suilcis is also noted for its food and wine. Visitors can sample the Carignano, wine, which, together with Cannonau, is the flagship of the island's quality red wine production.

Carignano is the perfect complement for the local traditional cuisine, which is particularly rich in game dishes. On the island of S.Pietro visitors can try the local Cascà dish, a Sardinian variation of the Tunisian cous cous. The main difference between the two dishes is that Cascà is made only with vegetables.

Another unforgettable experience is the "Tonnara", or tuna fish festival. It is an annual occurrence held in Portoscuso and Carloforte, and is an important fishing event for the community because tuna fishing constitutes a significant part of the local economy. The festival also offers visitors the chance to sample some of the many delicious tuna fish dishes that the region has become famous for.
The Sulcis region is divided into two parts: to the north the area of Iglesias and to the south the area of Sulcis.