The former mines of Sardinia’s Geo-mining Park were the subject of a Landscape Strategy conducted by Penn Praxis and PennDesign Adjunct Professor Valerio Morabito that aimed to preserve and enhance the island’s mining and mineralogy history while promoting tourism for the area. For the Landscape Strategy, drawings of the existing infrastructure and landscape were produced, schematic designs created for the exterior spaces at the entrances of former mines, and recommendations for strategic planning were made. The project balanced scientific research with tourism to reorganize the landscape’s components and create an opportunity for joint social and economic development.
In 2007, the Park became a member of the European Network and the UNESCO Global Geo-parks. Sardinia’s mining history “begins around 6000 BC with the extraction and processing of obsidian [in Monte Arci], followed around 4000-3400 B.C. by talc [in Orani], and in 2900-1800 B.C. from copper for the realization of “bronzetti nuragici” (Funtana Raminosa, Gadoni). The Geological and Mining Park tells almost 8000 years of exploitation of the mineral resources of the island (Roberto Rizzo & Francesco Muntoni, Historical and Environmental Geological and Mining Park of Sardinia, Landscape Process- Processi di paesaggio. Aracne Editrice).
The park includes eight areas across the island of Sardinia: Monte Arci; Orani-Guz-zurra-Sos Enattos; Funtana Raminosa; Argentiera-Nura-Gallura; Sarrabus-Gerrei; Arburese-Guspinese; Iglesiente; Sulcis.