Carbonia is a small town in the south west of Sardinia, in the province of Cagliari. The town is famous for it's history linked to the large coal mine, in disuse since 1964. The wealth of archaeological sites in this area gave rise to the network of museums composed of the Villa Sulcis Archaeological Museum and the "E.A-Martel"  Paleontology and Caving Museum, the Mount Sirai Archaeological Park, the Sirai Nuraghe and the Hypogean Necropolis of Canne di Sotto. A visit to the nearby mount Sirai plateau is a must as here you can get a clear picture of the Phoenician and Punic civilizations in Sardinia, as well as admire the magnificent panorama comprising the two islands of Sant'Antioco and Carloforte. The recent history of the town is however testimony to the rationalist architecture of the 1900s, in the square around which stand the Town Hall, the Church, the Civic Tower and the Theatre. Due to it's location the town offers access, in a short time, to numerous coastal towns.