The activity started in 1852 and ended in 1968.
The gallery, named after the marquis viceroy of the Kingdom of Sardinia, is excavated at +174 meters above sea level and connects the Vittorio Emanuele and Sella shafts.
It is the mining gallery that more than others brings to life the miner’s life. Very interesting are the winch room, the reconstructions of the containment systems of the landslide zones, the safety systems and hoist protections for going down and up, the reconstruction of the working methods for preparing the blasting systems to break the rock.
The Vittorio Emanuele shaft, excavated in 1863, reached a depth of -100 meters below sea level, and was used for the descent and ascent of miners, as well as for recovering the lead ore extracted from the 80 km of galleries of the Monteponi Mine.
The Sella shaft, excavated in 1874, housed the large steam pumps that “sucked” underground water, ensuring protection from water hazards in the galleries.
Access is on foot. Visit duration 1.15 hours
Information about Monteponi Mine – Villamarina Gallery
Strada Statale 126,
09016 Iglesias (Carbonia-Iglesias)
0781491300
www.igeaminiere.it
Source: MIBACT
