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The Montevecchio Management Building, located in the mining village of Gennas, in the area called Spianamento, is a leading architectural witness in the Sardinian mining “epic” of the second half of the 19th century.

An example of neoclassical architecture applied to an industrial context, its construction, begun in 1865 and completed in 1870, was commissioned by the entrepreneur Giovanni Antonio Sanna, a central figure in the development of Montevecchio’s mining activities.

The building, which housed the administrative offices of the mine and Sanna’s home, aimed to symbolize the power of the property and the modernity of a booming industry.

Structurally, the building is spread over three floors and is distinguished by its rectangular plan with an internal courtyard. The facades are punctuated by molded frames and symmetrical windows, typically neoclassical. Inside, the building was organized according to a functional criterion: the ground floor housed the administrative offices and meeting rooms, while the upper floors were reserved for the director's apartments and other reception rooms.

One of the most significant elements of the Palazzina della Direzione is the Sala Blu, a luxurious environment used for receptions and important business meetings. This room still preserves elaborate stuccoes and frescoes on the walls and ceiling, which reflect the high social status of the directors and the desire to represent the mine as a cutting-edge enterprise.

The strategic position of the building, built on a hill overlooking the entire mining complex, was chosen not only for its scenic beauty but also for the control it offered over the extraction and processing operations. This aspect highlights the importance of the surveillance and direct supervision of mining activities, which were the beating heart of the local economy.

In addition to the offices and reception rooms, the building also housed accommodation for the service staff. This internal layout reflected the rigid social hierarchies of the time, with a clear separation between the spaces reserved for managers and those intended for servants.

Adjacent to the main body is the small church dedicated to the protector of miners and mining: Santa Barbara.

After the cessation of mining activities, the Palazzina della Direzione underwent a long period of abandonment, until it was recovered as part of the industrial heritage of Montevecchio.

Today, the building is protected and accessible to the public as part of a museum itinerary that aims to preserve the historical memory of the mine and its human and industrial events.