Porto Flavia, an engineering marvel of Sardinia, was constructed between 1922 and 1924 in Masua, within the province of Iglesias in southern Sardinia. This 600-meter-long tunnel, carved into the cliffs, overlooks the sea with a stunning view of the Sugar Loaf rock formation. Below, ships would dock at the base of the structure to be loaded with minerals bound for northern European foundries, significantly reducing transportation time and costs. The system consists of two stacked tunnels, vertically separated by nine silos. The upper tunnel was used to load the silos, while the lower tunnel, equipped with a conveyor belt, facilitated the direct transfer of lead and zinc ore onto waiting ships via a mobile arm. Named after Flavia, the daughter of its designer and construction manager, Cesare Vercelli, Porto Flavia remains a testament to both industrial ingenuity and Sardinia’s rich mining history.