Porto Flavia, Mining port museum in Iglesias, Italy
Porto Flavia is a mineral loading facility carved into rock along the coast of Iglesias in the province of South Sardinia. The structure consists of two overlapping passages that run through the mountain and end at a vertical limestone wall above the water.
The facility opened in 1924 following plans by engineer Cesare Vecelli to transfer zinc and lead from surrounding mines directly onto cargo ships. Operations ended in the 1960s when demand for Sardinian ores declined and extraction ceased.
The harbor is named after Flavia Vecelli, first daughter of the Venetian engineer Cesare Vecelli, who designed it. Until 1924 ore was carried to Carloforte in wicker baskets on the shoulders of sailors and loaded onto bilancelle, lateen-rigged boats holding up to 30 tons. Today former miners and IGEA technicians guide visitors through the tunnels.
Guided visits follow a fixed route through both levels and last about one hour, with groups welcomed in several languages. Temperature inside stays cool year-round, so a light jacket is recommended even in summer.
The lower tunnel's conveyor belt was enclosed in a steel casing so wind would not blow away zinc oxide powder, and it could be extended and retracted as a ship was loaded. The reservoirs carved into the rock held over 10,000 metric tons of ore.
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