<< Sardinia
Cagliari is the capital and largest city of Sardinia, located on the southern coast of the island. This area has been inhabited since prehistory, while the city was founded by the Phoenicians around the 8th century BCE. The town grew to become the most important city in the region under the Carthaginians and the Romans, and later was ruled by the Vandals and the Byzantines. Between the 11th and the 13th century, Cagliari was the capital of the Judicate of Cagliari, which ruled over Southern Sardinia. Cagliari later fell under the rule of Pisa and then the Aragonese, and became the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, keeping this status until the kingdom passed to the House of Savoy. Even after the Italian unification, Cagliari remained the main city on the island, and it is now the most important economic and industrial center of Sardinia, but it also features various historic attractions and interesting museums.
Places to see in Cagliari
- ✪ Cagliari Cathedral
- ✪ Torre dell'Elefante
- ✪ National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari
- Palazzo di Città
- Basilica of Santa Croce
- Torre di San Pancrazio
- Collection of Anatomical Waxes of Clemente Susini
- National Art Gallery of Cagliari
- Ethnographic Museum of Cagliari
- Civic Museum of Siamese Art
- Bastion of Saint Remy
- Collegiate Church of Sant'Anna
- Church of San Michele
- Villa of Tigellius
- Botanical Garden of Cagliari
- Roman Amphitheater of Cagliari
- Municipal Art Gallery of Cagliari
- Treasury Museum and Archaeological Area of Sant'Eulalia
- Sardinian Railway Museum
- Basilica of San Saturnino
- Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria
- Tuvixeddu Necropolis
- Castle of San Michele
- Molentargius-Saline Natural Regional Park
- Poetto Beach
✪ Cagliari Cathedral
Also known as: Cathederal of Santa Maria (Cattedrale di Santa Maria)
The Cagliari Cathedral (Duomo di Cagliari) is the main church of Cagliari, located in the historic neighbordhood of Castello. The church was erected in Pisan-Romanesque style during the 13th century, and was later renovated in Baroque and Romanesque Revival style. The cathedral features a decorated facade, while inside are numerous elaborate artworks. Underneath the church is the Sanctuary of the Martyrs (Santuario dei Martiri), a richly decorated crypt housing various funerary monuments. The church also includes a museum of religious artworks.
Address: Piazza Palazzo, 4/a, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2188, 9.1169
✪ Torre dell’Elefante
The Torre dell’Elefante is a large medieval tower in the old town of Cagliari, and one of the symbols of the city. The tower was built in 1307 when the city was ruled by Pisa, and was damaged a few times, but it was restored in the 20th century. The imposing tower offers a great view over the city.
Address: Piazza S. Giuseppe, 5, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2180, 9.1150
✪ National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari
The National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari) is the most important archaeological museum in Sardinia, located in the Cittadella dei Musei. The museum houses a large collection of archaeological findings mostly from the southern half of Sardinia, and spanning several millennia from the Neolithic to the Byzantine age, including numerous important artworks made by the Nuragic civilization.
Address: Piazza Arsenale, 1, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2224, 9.1166
Palazzo di Città
Palazzo di Città is a historic palace in Cagliari, located in the Castello neighborhood. Built in the 14th century, it served as town hall until 1970. The building has some decorated halls and houses an art collection.
Address: Piazza Palazzo, 6, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2187, 9.1166
Basilica of Santa Croce
The Basilica of Santa Croce is a historic church in the old town of Cagliari. Built during the Late Middle Ages, it originally served as a synagogue. When the Jews were expelled from the city in 1492, the structure was turned into a church. Inside, the church houses a few artworks.
Address: Via Corte D’Appello, 44, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2197, 9.1149
Torre di San Pancrazio
The Torre di San Pancrazio is the tallest of the medieval towers of Cagliari, located at the northern end of the Castello neighborhood. The tower was built in 1305, when the city was ruled by Pisa, and it is still well preserved.
Address: Piazza dell’Indipendenza, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2215, 9.1171
Collection of Anatomical Waxes of Clemente Susini
The Collection of Anatomical Waxes of Clemente Susini (Raccolta delle Cere Anatomiche di Clemente Susini) is one of the museums in the Cittadella dei Musei of Cagliari. The museum houses one of the largest collections of anatomical waxes in Italy, and includes several historic pieces.
Address: Piazza Arsenale, 1, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2220, 9.1172
National Art Gallery of Cagliari
The National Art Gallery of Cagliari (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Cagliari) is an art museum located in the Cittadella dei Musei in Cagliari. The museum houses a large collection of artworks by Sardinian artists, but also by Italian and international artists, spanning a period between the 15th and 20th century.
Address: Piazza Arsenale, 1, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2228, 9.1168
Ethnographic Museum of Cagliari
The Ethnographic Museum of Cagliari (Museo Etnografico di Cagliari) is a museum in the Cittadella dei Musei of Cagliari. The museum houses a collection of historic objects that showcase Sardinian culture and traditions, and dated mostly between the 19th and 20th century.
Address: Piazza Arsenale, 1, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2229, 9.1170
Civic Museum of Siamese Art
The Civic Museum of Siamese Art (Museo Civico d’Arte Siamese) is a museum of East Asian art in Cagliari, located in the Cittadella dei Musei. The museum houses the largest collection of Siamese art in Europe, but also includes Japanese and Chinese artworks. Among the collection are several paintings, statues, manuscripts, weapones, porcelains, and more.
Address: Piazza Arsenale, 1, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2228, 9.1172
Bastion of Saint Remy
The Bastion of Saint Remy (Bastione di Saint Remy) is a monumental structure located at the southern end of the Castello neighborhood of Cagliari. Originally a fortification, the structure was reworked between 1899 and 1902, and adorned with a staircase and a terrace. The bastion was damaged during World War II, but it was later restored.
Address: Piazza Costituzione, 09121 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2160, 9.1165
Collegiate Church of Sant’Anna
The Collegiate Church of Sant’Anna is a large Baroque church in Cagliari. The church was built in the 18th century to replace a previous medieval structure, and was restored in the 20th century, after being damaged during World War II. The church features a decorated facade with two bell towers, and houses some artworks.
Address: Via Domenico Alberto Azuni, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2187, 9.1129
Church of San Michele
The Church of San Michele is a Baroque church erected in Cagliari between the 17th and 18th century. The church features an elaborate facade, while inside it hosts numerous artworks and decorations. The Torre dello Sperone, a 13th-century tower and city gate is adjacent to the church.
Address: Via Ospedale, 2, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2190, 9.1115
Villa of Tigellius
The Villa of Tigellius (Villa di Tigellio) is a complex of Roman ruins in Cagliari. The complex includes the ruins of three Roman houses dating from around the 1st century BCE. The ruins were initially erroneously thought to be a single building, and the residence of poet Tigellius, hence the name.
Address: Via Giovanni Carbonazzi, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2206, 9.1084
Botanical Garden of Cagliari
The Botanical Garden of Cagliari (Orto Botanico di Cagliari) is the botanical garden of the University of Cagliari. The garden was inaugurated in 1864, and includes a large collection of plants from all over the world. Various Roman and pre-Roman ruins are also located in the park.
Address: Via Sant’Ignazio da Laconi, 11, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2215, 9.1102
Roman Amphitheater of Cagliari
The Roman Amphitheater of Cagliari (Anfiteatro Romano di Cagliari) was built between the 1st and 2nd century, and was partially carved in the rock. The amphitheater was abandoned in the 5th century, and was excavated starting in the 19th century.
Address: Via Sant’Ignazio da Laconi, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2239, 9.1132
Municipal Art Gallery of Cagliari
The Municipal Art Gallery of Cagliari (Galleria Comunale d’Arte di Cagliari) is an art museum in Cagliari. The museum includes mostly modern and contemporary artworks by Sardinian artists. The museum is hosted in a villa located at one end of the Giardini Pubblici di Cagliari, a large public park.
Address: Viale S. Vincenzo, 2, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2260, 9.1159
Treasury Museum and Archaeological Area of Sant’Eulalia
The Treasury Museum and Archaeological Area of Sant’Eulalia (Museo del Tesoro e Area Archeologica di Sant’Eulalia) is a religious and archaeological museum in Cagliari. The museum is adjacent to the 14th-century Church of Sant’Eulalia, and houses various religious artworks. An archaeological area housing ruins dating between the Carthaginian period and the Middle Ages is also part of the museum.
Address: Vicolo Collegio, 2, 09124 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2146, 9.1146
Sardinian Railway Museum
The Sardinian Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario Sardo) is a museum located next to the main railway station of Cagliari. The museum houses exhibitions on the history of railway transport in Sardinia, and includes a historic steam locomotive.
Address: Via Sassari, 24, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2154, 9.1083
Basilica of San Saturnino
The Basilica of San Saturnino is the oldest church in Cagliari, originally built around the 5th century. The church was reworked in Romanesque style during the 12th century, and was later renovated again a few times. The church is surrounded by a small archaeological area that houses a necropolis.
Address: Piazza S. Cosimo, 09127 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2140, 9.1232
Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria
The Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria (Santuario di Nostra Signora di Bonaria) is a religious complex located on top of a hill in Cagliari. The first church was built here in Catalan Gothic style in the 14th century, and the complex was later expanded with a Neoclassical church in the 18th century, a convent, a park, and a cemetery. The complex houses various artworks and decorations, as well as a museum of religious art.
Address: Piazza Bonaria, 2, 09125 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2084, 9.1253
Tuvixeddu Necropolis
The Tuvixeddu Necropolis (Necropoli di Tuvixeddu) is the largest Carthaginian necropolis ever found, located in Cagliari. The necropolis is part of a vast archaeological area, and was used between the 6th century BCE and the 3rd century BCE. A Roman necropolis was also built here later. Among the many tombs, some are decorated with paintings.
Address: Via Falzarego, 09123 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2290, 9.1010
Castle of San Michele
The Castle of San Michele is a medieval castle located on top of a hill in Cagliari. The fort was built in the 12th century, and served as a noble residence for a long time. Later abandoned and then used as a hospital, it was fortified once again in the 18th century. Now restored, it houses exhibitions on local art and culture.
Address: Via Giovanni Cinquini, 09121 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2447, 9.1098
Molentargius-Saline Natural Regional Park
The Molentargius-Saline Natural Regional Park (Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius-Saline) is a natural park located east of Cagliari. This area includes a large wetland, which houses numerous bird species. The park is known for hosting a large colony of flamingoes.
Address: Via la Palma, 9a, 09126 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2055, 9.1468
Poetto Beach
The Poetto Beach (Spiaggia del Poetto) is a long sandy beach located along the coast east of Cagliari. Along the beach are numerous bars and restaurants, and this is a popular summer destinations for locals. At the southwestern end of the Poetto Beach is a rocky promontory known as Sella del Diavolo (“Devil’s Saddle”).
Address: Viale Lungo Mare Poetto, 09126 Cagliari CA
Coordinates: 39.2115, 9.1734