Get to Know Porto Flavia, an Amazing Seaport Hanging From the Wall of a Cliff

It's time to discover, on the island of Sardinia, Porto Flavia, a surprising engineering masterpiece suspended in time and on the face of a cliff!

Porto Flavia, in Sardinia
Porto Flavia is a curious seaport located on the wall of a cliff on the Italian island of Sardinia

The southwest coast of the Italian island of Sardinia reserves an impressive civil engineering work for us: Porto Flavia. This curious and only seaport literally suspended from a cliff, is more than a structure. It is an authentic testimony of human ingenuity that dates back to the 20s of the last century.

Just two hours by plane from Spain, in the municipality of Iglesias and surrounded by beaches, is the picturesque inlet of Masua. It is there that a 600-meter tunnel is located that opens to the sea, and that served as the escape route for a mine that also functioned as a port. The minerals flowed directly from the mine to the ships located at the mouth, all thanks to an ingenious mobile arm.

Built between 1923 and 1924 by the visionary engineer Cesare Vecelli, Porto Flavia had a clear purpose: to facilitate the export of minerals, including coal, barium, zinc, sulfur, lead and silver.

The reason for the creation of Porto Flavia

The 19th and 20th centuries saw the island of Sardinia flourish with intense mining activity, especially related to coal. On the grounds of the town of Iglesias, where Porto Flavia is located, vestiges of that time are still preserved in the form of tunnels, wells and laundries. The region breathes industrial history, and Porto Flavia stands as a monument to that era.

Designed by Cesare Vecelli himself, the port is not only functional, it is also aesthetically charming. Vecelli proposed to build the port directly on the wall of the cliff, connecting it to the summit through intricate tunnels. The choice of the name, Porto Flavia, was not random, since it was a tribute to the engineer's daughter, Flavia, giving a personal and touching touch to this structure.

After World War II, mineral extraction activity in Porto Flavia experienced a notable decrease. In the 1990s, the mine closed its operations, marking the end of an industrial era

Engineer Vecelli deveired two overlapping tunnels of approximately 600 meters each, joined by nine vertical deposits. The transport of minerals was carried out by means of an efficient electric train, which deposited its load in the tanks through ingeniously designed hatches. We are facing a magnificent engineering work suspended between air and water.

Plan your visit to Porto Flavia

To immerse yourself in the history and peculiarity of Porto Flavia, there is the possibility of taking a guided tour with a price of 10 euros per person. In this way, you can explore the tunnels through which the trains that transported the minerals circulated. We will also be amazed by the efficient conveyor belt system.

Porto Flavia, in Cerdeña
The engineer Cesare Vecelli proposed to build Porto Flavia directly on the wall of the cliff, connecting it to the top through intricate tunnels.

If you prefer to admire and photograph this unique seaport, you can choose to hire a suggestive boat or boat tour. Some excursions also offer the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear waters of Sardinia and enjoy the majesty of the 132-meter port located in front of Porto Flavia. Sea tours last between one and eight hours, and prices range from 39 euros per person. Departures are made both from nearby beaches, such as Buggerru or Cala Domestica, and from the capital of the island, Cagliari.

To discover Porto Flavia there are direct flights from Barcelona and Madrid to the city of Cagliari, and from there there is a distance of 80 kilometers to the town of Iglesias, approximately an hour and a quarter by car.