Sos Enattos: Lula’s hidden treasure

A hidden jewel. Very well hidden. Maybe too well. The mine of Sos Enattos (Lula, Italy) is one of those treasures often unknown even to next-door neighbours. But that’s probably part of their special aura. The Sos Enattos mine is arguably the most underrated of the vast collection of Sardinia former mining sites: Montevecchio, Monteponi, Serbariu, Argentiera, Rosas and many others. Nearly all of them provide a stunning combination of industrial archaelogy and naturalistic landscape. Sos Enattos certainly does.

This is a real mine, with a long history (Sphalerite and Argentiferous Galena were extracted at Sos Enattos from 200 AC), where everything is kept in the right place, in the best shape. Here ex miners – still employed but with different duties – look quite different than the iconic miner whose face is covered by that mixture of black dust and sweat. Third millennium miners need to re-invent themselves. They look young, bright, full of ideas and projects to ensure a future for a symbol of yesteryear. But most of all it’s their love for the place – the mine, more than its splendid surroundings – that touches you skin deep. “This mine is not a Ferrari locked in a garage, it is a Ferrari without petrol. Spotless, extremely well maintained, ready to go but with the engine idling” says Paolo Calia, the director of the Sos Enattos mine.

“You need to be blind to misjudge the value, the potential of this place. Not only for tourists but for scientists too. But without adequate promotion and cash injection it is hard to do anything, which is it a pity”.

Everyone would agree. The mining activity in Lula began with Ancient Romans, and kept going through many ups and downs until 1996. Despite being closed for nearly two decades, Sos Enattos is quite different than other old mining sites. You don’t see it as a “monument” of what has been. Once there you feel like you are part of something very much alive and kicking, which in reality is not the case anymore. Then you realize that being kept true to its original mission and purpose, despite being forced to stop any operational activity, is the real charm of this place; something which is absent from those mines altered too much to fit with modern museum criteria and standard expectations. Never the case with Soul Enattos. ONE

Sos Enattos Mine
Location: Lula (Sardinia, Italy)
Owner: IGEA Ltd
Tel. nr.: +39 0784 416614
Website: http://www.igeaspa.it

Minerals extracted at Sos Enattos:
Sphalerite, Argentiferous Galena, Chalybite, Azurite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Fluorite, Malachite, Pyrite, Smithsonite, Quartz

Timeline
2nd Century A.C. First mining activity by Romans.
1864: Mining activity by Ditta Paganelli-Guerrieri-Accade.
1878: Mining concession to Miss Raimonda Angioni ved. Sancio.
1905: Mining concession to Soc. Anonyme des Mines de Malfidano.
1951: Mining concession to Soc. RIMISA.
1971: Rolandi shaft opened.
1989: Sardinian Granite tiles production pilot plant opened.
1996: Mine closed.