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Borghi FantasmaAn atlas of Italy's abandoned villages

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Photo of Argentiera

Photo: Photo taken nearby · Gianni Careddu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Abandoned village · 1963

Argentiera

Province of Sassari, SardiniaOpen to visit

On the north-west coast of Sardinia, Argentiera was for centuries a village of silver and lead miners. When the mine closed, what remained was a village of industrial buildings facing the sea, now part of the Geomining Park.

Visiting

Before you go

Getting there
About 43 km from Sassari, on the SS291 and SP18 across the Nurra, via Palmadula.
The visit
Half a day between the restored ore-washing plant, the little church of Santa Barbara and the beach.
When to go
From May to September; in July the square hosts a literary festival.
Good to know
The route uses augmented reality: download the app and bring a charged smartphone. The beaches of Porto Palmas and Porto Ferro are nearby.

Practical information gathered from official and local sources on 9 October 2026. Opening times and conditions change: always check before you go.

Plan your visit

Where to stay nearby

Where to stayPlaces to stay near ArgentieraHotels, B&Bs and farm stays nearby · Booking.com ↗

Affiliate links: if you book from here the site earns a small commission, at no extra cost to you. That is how Borghi Fantasma stays free.

History

Argentiera is a frazione of Sassari in north-western Sardinia, 43 km from the centre of Sassari and 34 km from Alghero.

Until the 1960s it had a working mine for lead, zinc and iron, with most of its structures built in wood. Mining stopped in 1963. Today all the plants and most of the houses, built in a distinctive style with local stone, are disused and abandoned.

The site is of community importance, and a major restoration project has been funded. It is considered a sanctuary for nature activities, and trekking in particular. Argentiera is part of the Historical and Environmental Geomining Park of Sardinia, forming its Area 4 together with the Nurra and Gallura.

In 2015 the city of Sassari restored the ore-washing plant and the Podestà shaft, while the other buildings are under construction work. The small church of Santa Barbara, set on a hill above the village and facing the sea while keeping the correct liturgical orientation, has also been restored recently and is used for services from time to time.

The cemetery lies on the road just before the village, overlooking Porto Palmas beach. Miners and their families are buried there, and it is still used by the few residents of the hamlet.

Cala dell'Argentiera is the village beach. It has coarse grey sand, is divided into three parts by the mine and was used as a place to unload goods.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · translated from Italian

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