Cagliari, the largest city in Sardinia

Exploring the enchanting city of Cagliari, Sardinia

Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, is a city steeped in history with a breathtaking view of the sea. With its elegant shopping streets, panoramic terraces and picturesque historic districts, it is a city that wins visitors’ hearts. In this article we take a closer look at Cagliari and everything it has to offer.

Exploring the historic districts

Cagliari has a rich history that goes back thousands of years. The Castello district, on the city’s highest hill, is the heart and soul of its nightlife. It has ancient bastions with breathtaking views over the city, picturesque streets with magnificent old buildings such as the Palazzo Regio and the Palazzo di Città, and the splendid cathedral of Santa Maria. The medieval towers – dell’Elefante and San Pancrazio – that guard the entrance to the castle are also worth a visit.

The Villanova district, linked to Castello by the stairway of the Bastione di Saint Remy, is a place of religious devotion during Holy Week. For the rest of the year you can visit elegant boutiques and churches such as the cloister of San Domenico, the church of San Saturnino and the Basilica di Nostra Signora di Bonaria, the Christian shrine of Sardinia.

The Marina district, below Castello, will impress you with its fine buildings and the arcades of Via Roma, including the Palazzo Civico. It is the symbol of the city’s multi-ethnic character and is home to the church of Sant’Eulalia, which preserves valuable remains from the Roman era.

The Stampace district, where the colourful festival of Sant’Efisio takes place every May, is a place where narrow lanes lead to the Baroque church of Sant’Anna. Nearby you can visit one of the most important Roman ruins in Sardinia, the Amphitheatre, and the Botanical Garden, a green oasis in the city centre.

Natural attractions in Cagliari

Cagliari offers countless natural attractions to explore, from the Cagliari lagoon to the Molentargius-Saline park, which you can visit by mountain bike to see the pink flamingos in flight. Of course there is also the sea: the 8 km of soft sand at Poetto beach invite you to swim or to walk along the foot and cycle path. At night Poetto shows its glamorous side, and from here you can take a trip to Calamosca and the Sella del Diavolo.

The food of Cagliari

Be sure to try the local cuisine. Enjoy spaghetti with bottarga (cured mullet or tuna roe) and artichokes, burrida with dogfish and walnuts, and fregula con cocciula, small semolina pasta with clams.

Conclusion