The Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara (C.M.S.B.), or Santa Barbara Mining Trail, aims to preserve the memory of the men who, over the centuries, built and walked the paths connecting their homes to the places where they worked. At the same time, it invites us to retrace those same routes, discovering and enjoying a territory of extraordinary beauty, rich in natural landscapes, history and the intangible heritage of past events, bygone eras and the people who came before us.
The trail is dedicated to Saint Barbara, the patron saint and protector of miners. Miners entrusted themselves to her protection as they made their way to the dangerous workplaces where they earned their living. In gratitude for returning safely, they built churches and chapels in her honour, places where they could stop and give thanks for having once again walked those familiar paths.
This is therefore a trail for pilgrims, but also for trekkers, bikers and anyone who loves being close to nature, enjoying the silence, discovering mountain and coastal landscapes, meeting people along the way and sharing the companionship that grows naturally when walking slowly together.
Whether you are drawn to these paths by the challenge of the journey or the desire to explore, you will find modern signage and tools to help you travel safely.
Miniera Montevecchio lies along your route, serving as both the starting and finishing point for the Piscinas/Pitzinurri–Montevecchio and Montevecchio–Guspini–Arbus stages. Here, you can have your pilgrim passport stamped.
We recommend planning your itinerary along the C.M.S.B. carefully, so that your demanding journey brings you to each place at the right time to make the most of the services available — services that can truly transform your experience.
Visiting the underground mine and/or exploring the museum interiors of the historic buildings you glimpse along the trail, preserved as they were in their working days, offers a unique opportunity to meet local guides and former miners. They will help you understand the territory you are travelling through and reveal the stories and meanings behind the places you encounter along the way.
Not every site or service can always be open and accessible, especially in places where we seek wilderness and solitude. Fortunately, checking opening days and times online or by telephone is now easier than ever. When a service is unavailable, booking well in advance may allow local operators to arrange staff shifts to accommodate your needs.
Environmental Hiking Guides (Guide Ambientali Escursionistiche – GAE) can be among your most valuable contacts when planning and undertaking the stages of your journey. By joining them and other organised groups of walkers, you may find it easier to arrange special openings of cultural and tourist sites outside their usual opening days or hours, while also sharing the costs of these services.
Do not simply set off on your journey, relying on improvisation and hoping for the best. The adventure awaits you in the landscapes, the scents and the natural beauty of these paths.
Do not miss the opportunity to experience your itinerary to the fullest. Seeing a place without understanding it is the greatest disservice you can do to yourself.
We are here to help you make these places unforgettable and ensure that you do not miss out on the richness of the experience they have to offer.