Carbonia
By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 14 March 2022
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The city of Carbonia is the capital of South Sardinia Province with a population of 28,009 inhabitants. The province was created in 2016, replacing the now defunct Carbonia-Iglesias.
Standing at an elevation of 111 metres above sea level, it covers a total area of 146 km² and lies 68 kilometres west of Cagliari, the regional capital of Sardinia. Carbonia came into existence only in 1938 when incumbent Fascist leader Benito Mussolini decided to create a town based around the local mining industry. The Italian word for coal is "carbone" and it is from here that Carbonia takes its name. |
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The main sights in Carbonia revolve around the central square: Piazza Roma. The centrepiece of the Piazza is the Tower of San Ponziano which stands in front of the eponymous church: the Chiesa di San Ponziano. Across from the main church is a public park with a modern amphitheatre while the majority of shops are on nearby Viale Gramsci.
There are also three museums in Carbonia; the Museo Archaeologico Villa Sulcis is a 5 minute walk (500 m) from Piazza Roma while the Museo del Carbone (Mining Museum) and the Museo dei Paleoambienti Sulcitani (displaying a wide range of geological exhibits), are situated next to each other, two kilometres from Piazza Roma.
Carbonia's main train station (Stazione Carbonia Serbariu) is located a 15 minute walk (1 km) west of Piazza Roma. Trains run east from Carbonia to Cagliari with a journey time of an hour 6 minutes, stopping along the way at Cagliari Elmas Airport (59 minutes). For the nearby town of Iglesias there are buses that take an hour (Line 801), or heading south, you can reach the island of Sant'Antioco in 36 minutes with the 827 bus.
In terms of nearby places of interest; just north of Carbonia lies the 200 metre high Monte Sirai with its archaeological site, while heading south west, it's just a short distance to the island of Sant'Antioco which can be reached via a road bridge. The neighbouring island of San Pietro can be reached either by ferry from Sant'Antioco, or from Portoveseme, the ferry port just to the east of Carbonia.
There are also three museums in Carbonia; the Museo Archaeologico Villa Sulcis is a 5 minute walk (500 m) from Piazza Roma while the Museo del Carbone (Mining Museum) and the Museo dei Paleoambienti Sulcitani (displaying a wide range of geological exhibits), are situated next to each other, two kilometres from Piazza Roma.
Carbonia's main train station (Stazione Carbonia Serbariu) is located a 15 minute walk (1 km) west of Piazza Roma. Trains run east from Carbonia to Cagliari with a journey time of an hour 6 minutes, stopping along the way at Cagliari Elmas Airport (59 minutes). For the nearby town of Iglesias there are buses that take an hour (Line 801), or heading south, you can reach the island of Sant'Antioco in 36 minutes with the 827 bus.
In terms of nearby places of interest; just north of Carbonia lies the 200 metre high Monte Sirai with its archaeological site, while heading south west, it's just a short distance to the island of Sant'Antioco which can be reached via a road bridge. The neighbouring island of San Pietro can be reached either by ferry from Sant'Antioco, or from Portoveseme, the ferry port just to the east of Carbonia.
Comune di Carbonia
Province: capital of South Sardinia
Region: Sardinia Population: 26,672 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2022) Size: 145 km² Elevation: 111 metres Highlights: Tower of San Ponziano, Piazza Roma, museums Close by: Monte Sirai, Sant'Antioco, Iglesias, San Pietro Island Recommended accommodation: Lu' Hotel Carbonia |
Public transport: central train station, local buses
By train: Cagliari Airport - 59 minutes, Cagliari - 1 hour 6 minutes |
By car: Cagliari - 56 mins (73 km), Oristano - 1 hr 27 mins (123 km)
Fly to: Cagliari Elmas Airport - 49 minutes by car (68 km) |
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