Cagliari

The administrative centre and most important town in Sardinia grew up around the old district of Castello which is surrounded by water on three sides: the Golfo degli Angeli (Gulf of Angels) to the south, and the two lagoons of Molentargius and Santa Gilla to the east and west, with their typical saltworks, inhabited by a vast number of waterfowl.

While the districts built after the last war give the town a modern appearance, the old town has managed to maintain the discreet charm of its original character, thanks to the airy terraces of the district of Castello, ancient fortifications of the Pisan and Aragonese overlords, the wonderful views, the narrow streets and the two powerful medieval towers of the Elephant and Saint Pancras.

The fine Cathedral in Pisan Romanesque style with Gothic elements, some 18th century palaces, the terrace of Saint Remy and the rampart of Santa Croce complete the charming atmosphere of the old district, reachable through the old medieval gates.

Cagliari is rich in history, with many testimonies of the ancient “Karalis”: the churches of Bonaria and San Domenico, the baroque church of San Michele, the grandiose Amphitheatre completely carved out of the rock.

The tour of Cagliari continues to the long beach of Poetto, with its very fine sand. The south-west limit of the beach is the characteristic rocky formation known as the devil saddle, under which there is the harbour of Marina Piccola.

From Poetto, almost without interruption along the scenic coast road to Villasimius, there is a continuous line of villas, hotels, residences, places of entertainment, restaurants and tourist villages all along the coves, inlets and promontories of the attractive coast.

Situated in the centre of the beautiful southern coast of the island, Cagliari is the ideal starting point for a series of excursions: either to discover the thousand little bays along the coast, or in search of the past, the most important remains of which are to be found at Nora, a Roman town 30 Kms from Cagliari, and Barumini, an imposing Nuraghic fortress 70 Kms away.