Arbus

The history of Arbus is characterized by the mine activity in the surrounding territory and in the whole Sulcis-Iglesiente.  Starting with Ingurtosu, used many centuries ago and then recently used again in the second half of 1800, offering jobs to hundred of local people. The mine of Ingurtosu,  rich in lead, zinc and silver, employed nearly three thousand workers at the beginning of 1900.  Places of particular interest are the village, the imposing Brassey laundry, the head offices (constructed in 1870, similar to a castle in early Gothic style), the ruins of Villa Idina, the near Villa  Raith, the hospital and the little church of Santa Barbara.

An important location is also Montevecchio, in the territory between Arbus and Guspini.  This was the first mine in Sardinia that in 1848 obtained the concession for the extractive activity in modern age.  However, thousand of years before the Nuragic people discovered the value of cassiterite veins used to produce tin, fundamental component of the bronze fusion.  Lead, zinc and silver have also been extracted in Montevecchio. Places of interest are the wells of Sant'Antonio (the heart of the old mine), Sartori, Amsicora and Sanna, the Gennas village with the head offices, the Rolandi Village, the guest quarter, the laundry of Levant, the construction sites of Levante and Ponente.

In the town you could also visit the Sardinian knife Museum, in which are kept numerous pieces of value, such as a knife of the Giudicale period, some pieces of 1700 and the knife that for along time has been the biggest knife of the world (it has a 3,50 meters long blade, and it is curious to confront it with some other one that shorter than a centimeter). Do not miss having a look to the authentic “jewels" from other Sardinia centers of excellence (especially Pattada, Gavoi and Dorgali) and even some windows dedicated to cutting weapons going back crews to the Neolithic age.

The sandy dunes of Piscinas and the Oak woods are among natural attraction of the Arbus territory that you really should see.