Porto Flavia, Sardinia, Italy

A cliffhanging harbour. A cliffhanging harbour in Sardinia

The mining industry in Sardinia, Italy was booming in the early 20th century, as European nations started rebuilding from the damage of World War One. But Sardinia ran into logistical issues as it tried to export the zinc, lead and other minerals that were in high demand. Miners were using modern techniques to extract increasing amounts of ore, but it wasn't until 1924, when engineer Cesare Vecelli designed and built the mining hub along the cliffs in Porto Flavia, that getting product off the island matched their ability to extract it.

Before Vecelli's architectural marvel at Porto Flavia, ore was often carried by workers in wicker baskets and loaded onto boats, a process that was slow, expensive and often dangerous. But Vecelli's innovation allowed miners to lower ore directly onto ships waiting in the harbour below, saving time and cutting costs by up to 70%.

Porto Flavia, which Vecelli named after his daughter, wasn't purely an exercise in productivity. The engineer added design flourishes including a concrete tower, as well as an arched doorway and windows, giving the port a certain elegance not normally associated with mining. While Porto Flavia closed in the 1990s, it now has a new lease of life, as a Unesco-protected tourist attraction.