Glimpses of historic neighborhoods with sea views, shopping streets and scenic terraces, including the inimitable bastion of Santa Croce, where you can spend romantic evenings after fiery sunsets. Cagliari is the island’s main and most populous city, at the center of a metropolitan area of 430,000 inhabitants (more than 150 in the capital alone), as well as Sardinia’s gateway and Mediterranean cruise hub. It holds in its four historic districts millennia-old events ranging from prehistoric times to Savoyan rule.
The neighborhood Castle stands on the highest hill, characterized by ancient ramparts, now terraces where nightlife comes alive, and picturesque narrow streets overlooked by aristocratic residences: Palazzo Regio and Palazzo di Città, as well as St. Mary’s Cathedral. Of great charm are the medieval towers at the entrance to the castle, the Elephant and St. Pancras.
Villanova is connected to Castello by the staircase of the bastion of saint Remy: every year at Easter there is an air of passionate devotion in the neighborhood during Holy Week, year-round, however, it welcomes you to its elegant boutiques and among its treasures: cloister of saint Dominic, church of saint Saturnino and basilica of Our Lady of Bonaria, the Christian temple of Sardinia.
At the foot of the Castle you will descend to the Marina, which will remain with you for the splendid buildings and arcades of Via Roma, including the Civic Palace. Created to accommodate fishermen and merchants, it is a symbol of a multi-ethnic city. In the neighborhood you will find the church of St. Eulalia, with valuable remains from the Roman era.
While the other historic district of Stampace is colored every May 1 for the Feast of Saint Ephisius, an event awaited by the whole island. Among its narrow streets is the Baroque church of St. Anne. Within walking distance of the historic center, don’t miss theAmphitheater, one of Sardinia’s greatest Roman relics, and theBotanical Garden, a green oasis in the city center.
Outside the city center, you can admire the exterior of the Castle of San Michele and visit Tuvixeddu, the largest Phoenician-Punic necropolis in the Mediterranean (6th-3rd centuries BC). At the end of the cultural tour, you can immerse yourself in the myriad nature attractions: the Cagliari lagoon, the Molentargius-Saline park, which you can ride on a mountain bike while watching the flight of pink flamingos, and the sea. Take a dip at Poetto, a city beach of soft sand eight kilometers long lined with pedestrian and bike path. She also looks stunning at night, when she reveals her glamorous side. From Poetto you can set off on an excursion to Calamosca and the Devil’s Saddle. Finally taste the delicacies: spaghetti with bottarga and artichokes, burrida, made with dogfish and walnuts, and fregula con cocciula, semolina balls with clams.(From the Sardegna Turismo institutional website)
