The coast of the Sulcis Iglesiente is disquieting, characterised by excavated roads and long beaches with dunes and cliffs, where the rare hawks called Eleonarae still nest. The land has been populated since the old Ages as evidenced by Montessu's necropolis with its Domus de Janas (Witches' houses).
Afterwards the Fenicians came and transformed Sant'Antioco in one of the most important port of the Mediterranean, where all the wealth extracted from the mines, gold included, were loaded.
The most important inhabited centres in this area are Iglesias and Carbonia. The former, reachable through the SS.130, is just 1 hour far by car from the Sardinia's capital. After the difficulties due to the crisis of the mining sector, today the centre is trying to exploit the tourism, pushing over a natural environment plenty of resources. The same is for the city of Carbonia, built in only 300 days at the beginning of the 30' as Benito Mussolini desidered.
Going on in the Sulcis territory we'll arrive at Calasetta. From there it'll be possible to sail towards the isola di San Pietro.
The ferry-boat approaches Carloforte, where architecture, language, tastes and scents remind the region of Liguria. In fact the population of the little island descends from the coral fishermen coming from Liguria imprisoned by the Saracens and released by Carlo Emanuele III in 1736.
To be noted Capo Sandalo, natural oasis with recommended paths, available also for people not used to extricate in the Mediterranean bush.
Back to the mainland, Nebida e Masua, little villages still populated by miners, deserve a visit.
In the middle of a desert environment we'll find the hidden Cala Domestica, one of the most untouched bay of Sardinia.
But the real treasure in this area is the long beach, characterised by white dunes, which goes from Capo Pecora to Piscinas. Walking along this beach you might meet wild rabbits, partridges and, with good binoculars, also the very rare Sardinian deer.