Grotta di Santa Barbara
Large natural cave discovered in 1952 in the San Giovanni mine in Iglesias, its walls lined with barite crystals, open to visitors with a guide.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Grotta di Santa Barbara was discovered in 1952, when workers excavating an ascending gallery for the mine broke through a rock wall and found themselves facing a large natural cavity, until then unknown to science because it lay hidden in the heart of the mountain. It is an outstanding example of the dark brown tabular barite crystals that line its walls. The cave opens within cerioid limestone and silicified yellow dolomite, Lower Cambrian formations some 500 million years old.
The cave lies inside the San Giovanni mine and is reached through a network of underground galleries, which can be travelled by a small train. After 700 metres the train reaches a lift that rises up a shaft. The entrance opens at the top of a spiral staircase, from which one sees a true underground cathedral, sparkling and majestic.
San Giovanni is one of the oldest mines in Sardinia: it was worked in Roman and Pisan times and perhaps already in the Nuragic age. Industrial mining began in 1867 with the English company Gonnesa Mining Company Ltd, extracting lead, silver and zinc. The mine stood out for its modern plant, including one of the first mechanical washeries and innovative flotation units. It closed in 1998 and was the last mine in the Iglesiente to cease operations. It is part of the Parco geominerario storico e ambientale della Sardegna (Historical and Environmental Geomining Park of Sardinia).
Highlights
- Natural cave with dark brown barite crystals
- Mine access by small train and shaft lift
- Spiral staircase at the entrance
- San Giovanni mining complex
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €12Children aged 6 to 12, over-65s, and pilgrims on the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara with a pilgrim credential |
| Students & apprentices | €12School rate, not available for online purchase. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €13 per personGroups of at least 15 paying adults; for larger groups, contact the Tourist Office. |
Visitor numbers are limited, so it is advisable to buy tickets in advance, online or at the Iglesias Tourist Office (Piazza Municipio 1). Please arrive at the cave ticket office with your paper or digital receipt 20 minutes before the tour; anyone arriving late loses the visit without a refund. Bookings by telephone or e-mail are not accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The visit includes the mine entrance by small train and lift, while the cave itself is reached by a spiral staircase.
Kids & families
Children must walk for the whole visit; those who cannot walk on their own must be carried in a baby carrier. Reduced rate for ages 6 to 12.
Getting there & parking
The site lies along the SS 126, in the locality of San Giovanni, a short distance from Iglesias, in front of the village of Bindua.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tour of about 1 hour and 15 minutes, in Italian and English. The temperature in the cave is 16–18 °C: sports clothing is recommended and closed shoes are compulsory. Animals are not admitted. Children must walk for the entire visit or, if they cannot walk on their own, be carried in a baby carrier. |
