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The territory that includes the three distinct areas of Arburese-Guspinese, Iglesiente and Sulcis is located in the southwestern part of Sardinia and covers an area of 2,455 square kilometers, equal to 65% of the total extension of the areas included in the Geomining Park of Sardinia.
It is therefore the most extensive part of the territory included in the Park and at the same time the most representative for distribution, variety and importance of mining activities that have taken place during the last millennia.
From a mining point of view, the area, due to the consistency of the metal deposits of lead, zinc, copper, silver, tin, manganese and iron exploited since ancient times, has become one of the most important metal districts in Western Europe. In addition to metal mines, the cultivation of barite, bentonite clay and, above all, coal deposits has been of particular interest.
The three areas form a well-defined geographical entity within the island's landscape, featuring an extensive coastal stretch rich in diverse and captivating environmental aspects. This stretch is punctuated by modest mountain ranges that rise from a predominantly hilly terrain, interrupted in the central and southern areas by the vast flatlands of Cixerri and Basso Sulcis.
The area was described by the first geologists as "an island in the island," primarily due to its geological features spanning from the lower Paleozoic to the Pleistocene era, as well as the natural characteristics and the presence of environments of significant scientific and cultural interest.
A variety of features alternate between unique botanical species, caves and caverns among the most important on the Island, as well as a significant heritage of industrial and mining archaeology.
In this unique geological, mining, scientific, landscape, and historical context, unparalleled in the Mediterranean, significant engineering works were carried out in the past, serving as a testament to the advanced technology achieved in this region of Sardinia.