Integrated Territorial Investment · PR Sardegna ERDF 2021-2027
The ITI of the Mining Trail of Santa Barbara
An integrated strategy to regenerate Sardinia's mining territories: trails, hospitality, and communities, from Sulcis Iglesiente to the new routes crossing the Island from North to South.
€13.1 mln
Total allocation of the strategy
51
Municipalities involved, over 295,000 inhabitants
4
Territorial routes, from the Southwest to the entire Island
5
Strategic areas, from infrastructure to governance
What is the ITI
From trail to territorial development tool
The Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) is the tool through which the European Union and the Region of Sardinia concentrate resources and projects on a single territorial goal. With Regional Council Resolution no. 41/27 of 23 October 2024, the Santa Barbara Mining Trail was recognized as one of the territorial integrated projects of regional and supra-regional interest within the PR Sardegna ERDF 2021-2027.
The recognition turns a grassroots experience into a structured strategy: Fondazione CMSB acts as implementing body and translates the vision of the Trail into concrete actions — safe trails and bike paths, public buildings restored as hospitality venues, new routes, and promotional tools — coordinated with municipalities and the local communities along the route.
The territorial strategy was approved with Regional Council Resolution no. 39/42 of 24 July 2025, which defines the areas, priority operations, and the funding framework.
The strategy · the interventions
Five areas, dozens of projects in the territories
The strategy is structured in five strategic areas. Each area includes the priority operations carried out in the Trail’s municipalities, indicating funding source (ERDF or regional funds) and cost.
S1
Infrastructure
Improvement and strengthening of path continuity, usability, and accessibility of the Trail, including the restoration of ancient historic roads and disused mining railways.
Arbus · Buggerru
Upgrading Stage 8, from Rio Spaduedda to the Via Crucis towards Galleria Henry
€ 280,000ERDF
Carbonia
The Sulcis Gateway: cycling and walking path from the intermodal center to the Posada di Carboni
€ 675,000Reg. funds
Fluminimaggiore · Giba
Former Arenas mining village: safe access to the village, the posada, and shelter for horses
€ 310,000ERDF
Fluminimaggiore
Water supply for the former Arenas mining village
€ 200,000Reg. funds
Gonnesa
Rehabilitation of the cycling and walking trail along the former FMS railway, from Gonnesa to Bindua (Iglesias)
€ 260,000ERDF
Villamassargia · Villaperuccio · Sant'Antioco
Route from Santa Mariedda to Case Mannolini and redevelopment of the archaeological sites of Gruti'e Acqua
€ 485,000ERDF
South-West Trail
Maintenance of trails and buildings and opening of new trails (material actions)
€ 568,000Reg. funds
S2
Hospitality and accommodation
Completion and integration of the pilgrim hospitality system by converting public buildings into posadas and multifunctional facilities with low environmental impact.
Fluminimaggiore
Posada di Arenas: photovoltaic, solar thermal, and storage system
€ 201,000ERDF
Guspini
Repurposing of miner housing in Montevecchio Mine
€ 250,000ERDF
Iglesias
Posada di Nebida: redevelopment and efficiency upgrades of the former Carabinieri barracks
€ 577,000ERDF
Musei
Posada di Musei: redevelopment and energy efficiency of the building in Via Garibaldi
€ 597,500ERDF
Nuxis
Trail Posada: conversion of the former Enel cabin in Sa Marchesa locality
€ 637,500ERDF
Piscinas
Cycling route hub: renovation of the former restaurant at the train station
€ 590,211ERDF
Tratalias
Scattered posada in the old village of Tratalias
€ 398,500ERDF
Villacidro
Posada di Montimannu: improvement of facilities and space optimization
€ 203,000ERDF
Sant'Anna Arresi
Pilgrim accommodation at Candiani: trails, walkways, and trenches of the old military battery
€ 298,000ERDF
Santadi
Redevelopment of part of the disused Is Zuddas hotel
€ 500,000ERDF
Narcao
Posada di Rosas: energy improvement of the hostel premises
€ 295,000ERDF
S3
Opening of new routes
Completion of works and activities to open new CMSB routes in Northwest, Central-South, and Southeast Sardinia.
CMSB Northwest · Central-South · Southeast
Integration and update of tools for knowledge, information, and promotion of new routes
€ 205,000ERDF
S4
Communication and territorial engagement
Information, communication, promotion, and engagement activities for the territories, with updated tools for knowledge and enhancement of the Trail and attention to universal accessibility.
South-West Trail
Devices and micro-architectures for inclusive communication — “Design for All” pilot project
€ 475,000ERDF
South-West Trail
Promotion and enhancement of the Trail to increase visibility and the number of pilgrims
€ 1,000,000ERDF
South-West Trail
Extension to 2028 of promotion and enhancement actions
€ 1,000,000Reg. funds
South-West Trail
"From Chrysalis to Butterfly": co-financing of the Ministry of Tourism project
€ 460,650Reg. funds
South-West Trail
Purchase of equipment and tools for communication and marketing
€ 656,350Reg. funds
S5
ITI Management, capacity building, and empowerment
Growth of territorial capital and institutional quality, to respond quickly to local development needs and effectively implement the strategy.
South-West Trail
Expenses related to the implementation of operations and strategic oversight
€ 2,815,000Reg. funds
Iglesias
Capacity building: specialized staff for ITI administrative and accounting management
€ 400,000ERDF
The acts and governance
From the Agreement to implementation
The relationship between the Region and Fondazione CMSB is governed by an implementing Agreement and two addenda that progressively allocate resources to priority actions.
ITI Implementing Agreement
Defines the overall strategic framework (€ 13,137,711), the duties of the implementing body, and the coverage of the first immediately actionable operations, funded by regional resources.
Addendum no. 1
Funds the priority operations under PR Sardegna ERDF 2021-2027 — infrastructure, hospitality, new routes, and communication — for € 8,237,711, with the relative expenditure timeline.
Addendum no. 2
Allocates ERDF resources for ITI administrative capacity-building (€ 400,000) and distributes additional regional resources made available by the 2026 Regional Stability Law.
The parties
- Lead authority
- Autonomous Region of Sardinia — Department of Programming, Budget, Credit and Territorial Planning, Regional Programming Centre
- Implementing body
- Fondazione Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara, recognized as a public body
References
- EU basis
- Articles 29 and 30 of Reg. (EU) 1060/2021
- Strategy
- DGR no. 39/42 of 24 July 2025
- Inclusion in the PR
- DGR no. 41/27 of 23 October 2024 — Priority 6, Action 6.2.1
- Duration
- 36 months from signature
Transparency and co-financing
A project co-financed by the European Union
The Integrated Territorial Investment of the Santa Barbara Mining Trail is co-financed by the European Union under the Sardinia Regional Programme ERDF 2021-2027 and supported by resources of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, in line with the information and communication requirements set by Article 50 and Annex IX of Reg. (EU) 2021/1060.
