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Cagliari district
guide
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Cagliari main information page)
Cagliari is the
main political, administrative, economic and cultural centre of
Sardinia and the first port of the island.
It is situated in the middle of the wide Gulf of Angels
spreading on the southern slope of Sardinia, from Capo Pula to
Capo Carbonara. The climate is mild in winter and hot in summer.
The medieval town was composed by a village placed on a hill:
only the towers and bastions remain there. Sea quarters spread
towards the harbour.
At the beginning of its history Cagliari was a Carthaginian
colony flourished then under the Roman rule. Destroyed by the
Saracens, it raised again under the Republic of Pisa.
In 1326 it was conquered by the Catalans, who during their
domination gave it the features of a Spanish town.
In 1718 Sardinia was annexed to the Reign of Savoy and since
then on Cagliari followed the destiny of the island.
In 1862, when Cagliari was no longer a stronghold, its
fortifications were destroyed and the development of the modern
town began.
Poetto Beach: Poetto Beach, located on the outskirts of
Cagliari, has more than 6 miles of fine white sand facing the
Gulf of the Angels. It is regarded by many as one of the world's
top beaches. Lined with kiosks and caf?, the beach attracts sun
worshippers by day, and serves as a vibrant meeting place for
young people at night.
Archaeology/Medieval Architecture in Cagliari
A 2nd century Roman amphitheater and the 13th-century Cathedral
of Santa Cecilia are here. Cagliari also hosts Sardinia's
National Archaeological Museum. San Michele, an impressive
medieval castle perched on top of a hill, enables you take in a
magnificent view the city in its entirety.
The Marina e Stampace area of the city - two of the four
quarters into which the town was divided in the Middle Ages, has
some wonderful examples of medieval architecture, including
several churches. Also, there are extensive ruins of the ancient
Phoenician city of Nora just outside Cagliari.
Car/Walking Tours Cagliari Area
By car or mountain bike, you can explore the magnificent and
relatively unspoiled coastline, forests and mountains near
Cagliari. Generally, you will find little traffic on the roads.
Alternatively, take a guided hiking tour and experience the
varied terrain of the island.
Shopping in Cagliari
Cagliari has several shops offering locally made Sardinian arts
and handicrafts. These items are unique, of top quality, and
include baskets, pottery, ceramics, textiles and gold filigree
jewellery. The prices are quite reasonable given the quality of
the items.
Dining in Cagliari
Cagliari has numerous eating establishments offering traditional
Sardinian meals. A Sardinian dish is almost always a great
culinary experience, and the cuisine differs significantly from
that of mainland Italy. Particularly popular dishes include:
wild boar ham; burrida (fish marinated in a walnut and garlic
sauce[i] sa fregula[/i] (grain sized pasta served in fish broth);
"panadas" (pies filled with vegetables and eels), and
"sanguinaccio" (pork-blood sausage sweetened with sugar and
raisins). Other traditional Sardinian dishes include marinated
baby lamb and roast suckling pig.
Conclusion
Besides festivals and secular sagre, which are unique for their
evocative spirit and the richness of their colors, Cagliari
offers museums and monuments, architecture and archaeological
wonders which the different cultures that passed through or
occupied Cagliari throughout its history have left behind. The
Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals and the people from Byzantine,
Pisa, Genoa, Aragona, Catalan, Spain and Piedmont have all left
their mark on this ancient city.
Let's not forget that it is also the city of the sun : it is
never too cold in winter and in the summertime the climate is
mild and pleasant. The beaches are marvellous (the Poetto beach
is extremely popular) and tourists have many possibilities to
relax in the area. In addition to the traditional seaside,
visitors can go horse riding, play golf or do some cycling
tourism , enjoying unspoiled landscapes and corners of Sardinia
that few people know.
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