National Mining Day
The mining heritage of the Nisseno area: sulfur mines, nature reserves, and the memory of Saint Barbara
About Mining Day
A journey into the mining heart of Sicily
National Mining Day is an event promoted and coordinated nationwide by REMI and ISPRA, in collaboration with AIPAI, ANIM, Assorisorse, G&T, and MASE, dedicated to the enhancement and promotion of mining tourism as a cultural heritage. Every year, the initiative involves sites, museums, and mining parks across Italy, gathered in a "National Calendar" of widespread events. In Caltanissetta, in the heart of the Nisseno province and central Sicily, the day takes on a special meaning: for over a century, this land was the center of sulfur extraction, and its mines tell a story of hard work, struggle, and collective identity.
The sulfur mines and the memory of Saint Barbara
The goal of the Caltanissetta leg is to continue the project started in 2000, focusing on the recovery and conversion for museum purposes of the Trabonella, Giumentaro, and Giumentarello mines, located within Zone B of the "Monte Capodarso and Valle dell'Imera Meridionale" Nature Reserve. The symbolic heart of the event is the Villaggio Santa Barbara, an ancient mining village named after the patron saint of miners, which remains a place of memory for the Sicilian sulfur civilization to this day.
What to expect
- Creative workshops for schools on the theme of mining traditions and devotion to Saint Barbara
- Free guided tours of the ancient sulfur mines in the Nisseno area
- Geo-nature excursions in the Monte Capodarso and Valle dell'Imera Meridionale Nature Reserve
- A program integrated into the national calendar that unites dozens of mining sites from North to South
The event is free and designed for families, students, and enthusiasts of geology, industrial archaeology, and slow tourism. It is a precious opportunity to discover a often-forgotten heritage and walk along the paths once trodden by the miners of the Nisseno area.
Mining Day — edition 2026
2026 Program
- Friday, May 29, 10:00 AM — At Villaggio Santa Barbara, a creative workshop dedicated to the figure of Saint Barbara and the sacred group of the "La Veronica" vara, with the participation of students from the Vittorio Veneto Comprehensive Institute.
- Saturday, May 30, 9:30 AM — Visit to a sulfur mine. Meeting point at Villaggio Santa Barbara, in front of the former Carabinieri barracks.
- Sunday, May 31, 9:30 AM — Geo-nature visit to the Monte Capodarso and Valle dell'Imera Meridionale Nature Reserve. Meeting point at Villaggio Santa Barbara.
The local initiative is part of the national calendar promoted by ISPRA and REMI, with events spread across numerous mining sites throughout Italy.
Programme Mining Day 2026
Friday, May 29, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Villaggio Santa Barbara: creative workshop dedicated to the figure of Saint Barbara and the sacred group of the "La Veronica" vara, with students from the Vittorio Veneto Comprehensive Institute.
Saturday, May 30, 2026
- 9:30 AM — Meeting at Villaggio Santa Barbara, in front of the former Carabinieri barracks: guided tour of a sulfur mine.
Sunday, May 31, 2026
- 9:30 AM — Meeting at Villaggio Santa Barbara: geo-nature visit to the Monte Capodarso and Valle dell'Imera Meridionale Nature Reserve.
Highlights Mining Day 2026
Prices Mining Day 2026
Practical information — Mining Day
Where
The meeting point is the Villaggio Santa Barbara in Caltanissetta (CL), in front of the former Carabinieri barracks. Visits take place at the sulfur mines and within the Monte Capodarso and Valle dell'Imera Meridionale Nature Reserve.
How to get there
Caltanissetta can be reached by car via the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway (Caltanissetta exit) and by train, stopping at Caltanissetta Centrale or Xirbi station. From the city center, Villaggio Santa Barbara is just a few minutes away by car.
Costs
Participation is free. Booking is recommended for guided tours; for information, please call 0934 541722.
Tips
For nature excursions and visits to the sulfur mines, comfortable trekking shoes, water, and clothing suitable for outdoor activities are recommended.
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Where does it take place — Mining Day
Villaggio Santa Barbara
Villaggio Santa Barbara, 93100 Caltanissetta