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    Cagliari

    Italy

    Cagliari

    CityCultureBeachCulinaryNature

    Cagliari is located on the gulf on the south coast of Sardinia and is the island's capital. On the city's outskirts are lagoons and salt pans, and flamingos have been nesting in Molentargius since 1993.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Sardinia
    9. Cagliari
    Cagliari is located on the gulf on the south coast of Sardinia and is the island's capital. On the city's outskirts are lagoons and salt pans, and flamingos have been nesting in Molentargius since 1993.Historic QuartersThe old town consists of four quarters: the fortified Castello on the hill, as well as Marina, Stampace, and Villanova. The Bastione di Saint Remy connects Castello with Villanova and Marina.Antiquity and MuseumsPhoenicians settled here early on, and the Romans left behind an amphitheater half-carved into the rock. The National Archaeological Museum displays bronze figures from the Nuragic culture and statues from Mont'e Prama.SeaPoetto is the city beach, approximately eight kilometers long, and at its western end lies the Sella del Diavolo.

    Sights in Cagliari

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Castello
    Attraction

    1Castello

    The walled upper town on the hill above the port was founded and fortified by the Pisans in the 13th century. The San Pancrazio Tower was completed in 1305; the Torre dell'Elefante in 1307. The Castello houses the Cathedral and the Cittadella dei Musei, featuring the National Archaeological Museum.
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    Bastione di Saint Remy
    Historic Landmark

    2Bastione di Saint Remy

    The bastion, with its stairs and terrace, was built between 1899 and 1903 on the old city walls, linking the Castello to the Villanova and Marina quarters. The gallery and terrace are named after Umberto I.
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    Cathedral Santa Maria
    Church

    3Cathedral Santa Maria

    The Cathedral in the Castello was built in the 13th century by the Pisans in the Romanesque style, becoming a cathedral in 1258. It underwent a Baroque transformation between 1669 and 1704, while its current neo-Romanesque facade dates from the 1930s. Beside the main portal stand two pulpits, crafted from an ambo created by Master Guglielmo around 1160 for Pisa Cathedral. The crypt holds the tombs of members of the House of Savoy.
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    The Roman Amphitheater
    Historic Landmark

    4The Roman Amphitheater

    The amphitheater was constructed between the 1st and 2nd centuries and is half carved into the rock, the rest consisted of white limestone. It held around 8,000 to 10,000 spectators and was used for animal and gladiator fights.
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    Poetto
    Beach

    5Poetto

    Approximately eight-kilometer-long sandy beach on the Golfo degli Angeli between Sella del Diavolo and the Quartu Sant'Elena area. The beach sections are named after the stops of the CTM city buses that run from the city center.
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    Molentargius-Saline Natural Park
    Park

    6Molentargius-Saline Natural Park

    Wetland with salt pans and ponds between the city and Poetto. Since 1993, flamingos breed here; their preferred water body is Bellarosa Maggiore.
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    City walks in Cagliari

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Cagliari's Panoramic Magic: A Journey Through History and Views

    Discover Cagliari's fascinating history and breathtaking views on this two-hour walk. From the medieval lanes of Castello to ancient Rome and the lively promenade, immerse yourself in the heart of the Sardinian capital.

    ~2 Std. 20 Min.
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    Stops (7)

    Restaurants & Cafes

    1

    Antico Caffè

    Traditional café on Piazza Costituzione at the foot of the Bastione di Saint Remy. Besides coffee and pastries, hot dishes are served for lunch and dinner.
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    2

    Stella Marina di Montecristo

    Casual restaurant in Marina district serving Sardinian, pasta, fish, seafood; old photos on the walls.
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    3

    Sa Domu Sarda

    Traditional local in Stampace with Sardinian meat dishes, local ingredients and Sardinian wine.
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    4

    Su Cumbidu

    Eatery with exposed brickwork and colorful wooden tables, serving typical Sardinian dishes.
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    5

    Da Marino al St. Remy

    Fish restaurant in the Marina district below the Bastione di Saint Remy, featuring catch of the day, seafood antipasti, and pasta with bottarga or mussels.
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    6

    Trattoria Lillicu

    Large, simple trattoria in the Marina district with Sardinian fish and seafood dishes, regional wines and a terrace.
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    Food and Drink

    In Cagliari, fish and seafood are the main focus, along with dishes from the Campidano hinterland.

    Fregola con arselle

    Toasted durum wheat pearls with Sardinian clams, the most famous variation of Fregola.

    Burrida a sa casteddaia

    Catshark appetizer, braised with plenty of vinegar, walnuts, garlic and parsley.

    Clams and Mussels a Schiscionera

    Venus and mussels with garlic, breadcrumbs, parsley, white wine, and chili.

    Seadas

    Fried pastry from Gräß with cheese filling, drizzled with honey.

    Culture

    Phoenicians used Cagliari's port from the 8th century BC; later, the city came under Carthaginian influence and passed to Rome in 238 BC. In the 13th century, the Pisans founded and fortified the Castello; in 1326, the Aragonese took over the city. After Spanish rule ended, Sardinia fell to the House of Savoy in 1720.On May 1st, the procession in honor of Saint Efisio takes place, a vow from the plague of 1652. Groups in traditional costumes parade through the center; afterwards, the statue of the Saint is brought to Nora.

    Nightlife

    Cagliari's nightlife offers a blend of relaxed evenings and lively venues, mainly concentrated in the Marina and Castello districts. Here, you'll find a fitting choice, from traditional wine bars like Enoteca & Sapori to live music venues such as Jazzino.
    1

    Pane e Vino di Sardegna

    Wine bar on Via Dante in the San Benedetto district with Sardinian wines and small dishes.
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    2

    BnBlues

    Bar on Via San Lucifero in the Villanova district, for aperitifs and an evening drink.
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    3

    Jazzino

    Bar on Via Carloforte in the Stampace district.
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    4

    Vida

    Bar on Piazza San Sepolcro in the Marina district, where many places set up outdoor tables in the evenings.
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    Traveling

    Cagliari-Elmas Airport is just a few kilometers from the city center; all regional trains to and from Cagliari stop there. From the port, ferries sail to Civitavecchia, Naples, and Palermo.In the city, CTM buses operate, including lines to Poetto, and an ARST tram runs to Monserrato. By train, you can reach Oristano and Olbia.

    Accommodations in Cagliari

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    Campgrounds in Cagliari

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    Nearby

    Sardinia

    Sardinia

    Sardinia is, after Sicily, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and lies west of the Italian mainland. It is known for its coast with sandy beaches and clear waters, from the Costa Smeralda in the northeast to the bays of the Golfo di Orosei in the east. The island's interior is mountainous and sparsely populated; here stand many Nuraghe, stone tower-structures from the Bronze Age, among which the Su Nuraxi complex near Barumini is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sardinia has its own language, Sardinian, and in Alghero, an old form of Catalan is still spoken today. Ferries connect the island to Genoa, Livorno, and Civitavecchia, among other places, and airports are located in Cagliari, Olbia, and Alghero.
    Oristano

    Oristano

    Oristano, provincial capital in western Sardinia, was in the Middle Ages capital of the Judicate of Arborea. The old town, with Piazza Eleonora, the cathedral, and the Tower of Mariano II, is small. In the neighboring municipality of Cabras lie the Sinis Peninsula with the excavations of Tharros and beaches like Is Arutas, Maimoni and Mari Ermi.
    Bosa

    Bosa

    Bosa is located on Sardinia's west coast in the Temo Valley. The colorfully painted houses of the Sa Costa district stretch up the Serravalle hill to the Malaspina Castle. On the left bank of the river, the former tanneries stand.
    Alghero

    Alghero

    Alghero is located on Sardinia's northwest coast and features a walled old town by the sea. Since the Catalans occupied the city in 1354, it has been influenced by Catalan culture; Algherese, a Catalan variety, is recognized as a minority language.Old Town and BastionsThe Old Town is home to the Cathedral and the Catalan-Gothic Church of San Francesco, while the bastions with a promenade line the seaward side.SurroundingsWest of the city lie the Bay of Porto Conte and Capo Caccia with Neptune's Grotto. Along the coast are beaches such as Le Bombarde and Lazzaretto.
    Olbia

    Olbia

    Olbia is located on a bay in northeastern Sardinia. The port is the island's most important passenger harbor, and Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport lies south of the city.CityThe most significant building is the Romanesque Basilica di San Simplicio, mostly of granite.HistoryPhoenicians and Greeks came to the coast; the Carthaginians built a fortified city, and the Romans followed later. The Archaeological Museum at the harbor displays Roman ship parts; nearby are a well sanctuary and a giant's tomb.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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