Provider

Description

Santa Barbara Mining Path: Landscapes of Labor and Faith

The Santa Barbara Mining Path (Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara - CMSB) is a 500 km route into the Historical and Environmental Geomineral Park of Sardinia, across the oldest lands of Italy, weaving through sea, mountains, and abandoned mines in southwest Sardinia. Divided into 30 stages, it can be walked or biked and is supported by a network of hostels, posadas, restaurants, and services along the way.

Rooted in more than 8,000 years of human history, the trail passes through ancient Phoenician, Punic, Roman, and modern mining routes, where generations of miners lived and worked. Today, churches dedicated to Saint Barbara—the patron saint of miners—dot the journey, creating a path that is at once historical, cultural, and spiritual.

Hikers carry a pilgrim credential (passport), stamped at each stage, and can rely on official guides and an app that provides maps, stage planning, and cultural insights. The trail is managed by the Santa Barbara Mining Path Foundation, born to safeguard memory, revive local heritage, and create new opportunities after the decline of Sardinian mining.

The CMSB is not just a hiking itinerary but a living project of regeneration. It transforms abandoned industrial landscapes into opportunities for eco-tourism, education, and community development. Through initiatives like the Let’s Go Women Edition, it also celebrates women’s voices in preserving traditions and embracing sustainable lifestyles.

Where / Served area: Sardinia, Italy

Website: www.camminominerariosantabarbara.org

Why on TravaPowa:  The Santa Barbara Mining Path resonates with TravaPowa’s mission of slow, sustainable and transformative travel that uplifts both communities and landscapes.

• It regenerates abandoned mining territories, turning a history of struggle into a future of opportunity (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• By promoting low-impact forms of travel such as hiking and biking, it reduces environmental impact and encourages a deeper connection with Sardinia’s unique ecosystems (SDG 15: Life on Land).
• The Foundation preserves cultural and industrial heritage, ensuring the stories and struggles of miners remain part of Europe’s collective memory (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• With campaigns like Let’s Go Women Edition, it makes the path more accessible to female hikers while highlighting women’s resilience, participation, and contribution to cultural preservation and sustainable travel (SDG 5: Gender Equality).
• Through European cooperation projects, it builds bridges between mining communities across the continent, promoting shared identity and solidarity (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals).

Walking the Santa Barbara Mining Path means rediscovering Sardinia at a slow pace, feeling the elements, and connecting with the resilience of its people. It’s a journey where sustainability, memory, and community meet.

Take Action:  Want to enable impactful youth mobility and boost your CSR/ESG commitment on the topic of slow travel and environmental protection? Get in touch with the TravaPowa team.

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© Image credit: Cammino Minerario Santa Barbara. All rights reserved