Province of Carbonia-Iglesias, Former administrative province in Sardinia, Italy.
The Province of Carbonia-Iglesias was an administrative territory in southwestern Sardinia covering 23 municipalities across mountainous and coastal land. It connected to nearby islands through ferry routes and contained towns built around mining operations and historical settlements.
The territory was created in 2001 from parts of an earlier province and dissolved in 2016 when its municipalities were reassigned. Before modern administration, Phoenician settlers had occupied the coast, and later extensive mining for coal, lead, and zinc became the economic backbone.
Mining traditions shape how people experience these towns today, with industrial sites and abandoned mines visible throughout. Visitors can see the workers' quarters and small memorials that mark where community life once centered on extracting minerals.
You can reach the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco by regular ferry services from the coastal towns. The best time to explore is outside the hottest summer months when roads are more open and towns feel more accessible.
Carbonia was built entirely in the 1930s as a planned city for mining, while Iglesias had medieval roots as a separate town. This unusual pairing of two architecturally different cities serving as dual capitals creates a striking contrast between old and modern settlement patterns.
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