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Explore Cagliari

A city rich in history, art, culture and good food

A city “of stone, naked and rising, similar to a white Jerusalem”, this is how the British writer David Herbert Lawrence described Cagliari in 1921, an “almost fantastic” city enclosed between the blue sea and the white limestone rocks.

Founded by the Phoenicians, colonized by the Carthaginians, occupied by the Romans, disputed by the Pisans and the Spaniards, governed for a long time by the Piedmontese, the Sardinian capital preserves the sign of its long and eventful history in its palaces, churches, works of art and language. history.

At the top of the Castello hill, the fortified citadel with its white walls and tall medieval towers dominates the city skyline. Among the paved streets of the old Castle district, once the seat of civil, military and religious power, you can breathe the oldest air of Cagliari and concentrate the most interesting attractions.

However, the other districts of the historic center (Marina, Stampace and Villanova) are equally characteristic and rich in historical-artistic testimonies, where among artisan workshops, trattorias, traditional markets and noisy streets, small treasures are discovered (archaeological remains, museums, cloisters) and the spirit of the Cagliari people.

In addition to history and culture, Cagliari also offers many natural wonders: lagoon areas populated by numerous species of birds, green parks and beautiful beaches which during the summer come alive during the day and night, offering relaxation and lots of fun to tourists and locals.

On this page we show you some things to see during a weekend or holiday in Cagliari.

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Il Bastione di Saint Remy a Cagliari

The Bastion of Saint Remy (named after the Baron of Saint Remy, the first Piedmontese viceroy who had it built) was built between 1896 and 1902 on the ancient Spanish bastions of the Zecca and the Sperone to connect the castle to the lower city.

The scenic belvedere in classical style in granite and limestone includes a hemicycle staircase made up of two ramps that join in a landing which leads to the Covered Walk, a vast painted room closed by large arches.

Born as a banquet hall, the Passeggiata was used as an infirmary during the Great War and then as a refuge for displaced persons during the Second World War. Today, after years of neglect and abandonment, it has returned to shine as an exhibition space.

A second staircase with two circular ramps placed under a large arch leads to the immense Terrazza Umberto I, once the favorite promenade of Cagliaritans, today home to a Sunday second-hand market, which offers a splendid view of Cagliari and the Gulf of Angels.

From here, a short staircase leads to a second (smaller) square, dedicated to Santa Caterina. Semi-destroyed by the bombings of 1943, the imposing complex was rebuilt after the war according to the original design.

Opening hours and ticket prices for the Bastion of Saint Remy

Opening time:

The Covered Walk and the archaeological routes of the Spur Gallery can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.

Ticket cost €8.

How to get there: walk in the Old City.

Sanctuary of Bonaria in Cagliari

The history of this religious complex on the Bonaria hill dates back to the 14th century, when Alfonso of Aragon, following the difficult victory over the Pisans, had a church dedicated to the SS built as a sign of gratitude. Trinity and the Virgin that he donated to the Mercedari religious of the nearby convent.

Shortly thereafter, the small Gothic-Catalan style church would become the largest center of Marian devotion on the entire island.

On March 25, 1370, a mysterious chest thrown into the sea by a Spanish sailing ship during a storm ran aground on the beach in front of Bonaria.

No one managed to open it or lift it, with the exception of the Mercede friars who carried it to the church where they discovered its contents. The chest contained a statue of the Madonna and Child, holding a still lit candle in her right hand.

With the arrival of the miraculous Madonna, venerated by the faithful and invoked by sailors as their protector, the little church became the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bonaria.

The notable influx of pilgrims pushed the friars to think about building a larger church.

The works begun in 1704 continued for many years. In 1926 the largest Christian temple on the island was consecrated and obtained the title of minor basilica. In 1908, Pope Saint Pius

Opening hours and ticket cost for the Sanctuary of Bonaria

Opening time:

weekdays: from 6.30 to 11.30 and from 16.30 to 18.45
holidays and eves: from 6.30am to 11.30am and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm

Free ticket cost.

How to get there: in the upper part of Cagliari in Piazza Bonaria.
Bus: line 5, 6, 7, 30, 31, 5-11, 30-R

Poetto beach in Cagliari

Poetto is the beach of Cagliari; an eight kilometer stretch of sand that extends from the promontory of the Sella del Diavolo to the coast of Quartu Sant’Elena.

There are several hypotheses regarding the origin of the name: it is probable that Poetto derives from the Catalan “poeht” (well), in reference to the cistern near the S. Elia tower, but it is logical to think that the term may descend from “Su Puertu” (The Port ), a term used by the Spanish to indicate the landing place of Marina Piccola, at the southern end of the beach, later Italianised as “Il Poetto”.

The construction of the tram line (the stops that the tram once made gave the name to the different areas into which the beach is still divided: first stop, second stop, and so on up to the sixth) and the rise of the first establishments seaside resorts in the first decades of the 20th century, pushed the population to frequent the enchanting beach with emerald green water and very fine white sand.

But things soon changed: due to wind erosion the dunes disappeared, the buildings on the seashore narrowed the beach, not to mention the massive quantities of sand taken for building purposes.

The nourishment carried out in 2002 caused quite a few discontents since the new sand, mixed with fragments of shells and mineral substances, was anything but white.

Although it is no longer what it once was, Poetto still remains a beautiful beach, perfect for sunbathing and swimming, practicing outdoor sports, spending summer evenings with aperitifs, music and shows.

What to eat in Cagliari

Ingredients of Cagliari cuisine: strong and straightforward flavours, attachment to traditions, excellent quality raw materials (typical of the territory), Catalan and Ligurian influences. This is what makes the cuisine of the Sardinian capital unique, rich in the variety and goodness of its dishes.

Where to start? From the appetizers, of course! Bread, the most famous is carasau, excellent with olive oil and salt (pane guttiau); more elaborate in the frattau version (with tomato sauce, pecorino and eggs). Cheeses: whether they are DOP (pecorino and fiore sardo) or not, fresh or matured, creamy or smoked, they are the Sardinian specialty par excellence.

The expertly prepared seafood products are exquisite: burrida (dogfish cooked and marinated in a sauce of walnuts, garlic and parsley), sliced bottarga, cocciula (clams) and cozzas (mussels) a schiscionera (in a pan). Among the first courses, malloreddus, semolina and saffron dumplings seasoned with tomato and cheese, and macaroni are of Genoese origin; fregula, similar to couscous, often served in fish broth, and culingionis (ravioli filled with pecorino cheese, potatoes, garlic and mint seasoned with tomato sauce) are typical Sardinian.

Cassola, an appetizing fish soup, and panadas, calzones stuffed with meat or vegetables, are of Iberian origin. The roast wild boar and game are good, the goat, lamb and porceddu (suckling pig) on the spit are excellent. In Cagliari it is also possible to taste different varieties of fish, in particular sea bass, sea bass, dogfish and eels.

And finally the desserts. Among the best known: the pardulas, cheese-based sweets, the candelaus, balls of orange almond paste, the seadas, the delicious ravioli filled with cheese, fried and covered in honey. Famous wines from Campidano are Nuragus (white), Monica (red), Moscato and Malvasia.