Italy sardinia cagliari. In the heart of the island of Sardinia - Cagliari. The nearest beaches of Cagliari

And the administrative center of the province of the same name in the south, an important port and the oldest city on the island. The first settlements discovered in this area date back to the Phoenician era. Back in the 8th century BC. e. The Phoenicians founded a colony here called Caralis, which means “City of God” in ancient Phoenician. To this day, the Latin name of the city remains Caralis, while the Italians call it Cagliari, and the Sardinians themselves - Casteddu.

The city has an advantage geographical position, located between the sea bay and the fertile plains. Due to this, Cagliari is included in the list of the "greenest" cities in Italy and is represented by numerous natural areas where you can see rare representatives of flora and fauna. One of the most beautiful places is Molentarjus Park, where there are lakes with pink flamingos. Also noteworthy is the Botanical Garden at the University of Cagliari.

No less interesting is the architecture of the city. During the many conquests, Cagliari changed rulers several times. Here you can meet unique monuments architecture - castles, cathedrals, museums, Spanish bastions, Roman amphitheater, leaning towers of pisa and other ancient buildings. The city was badly damaged during the Second World War, but was later rebuilt.

Conventionally, Cagliari is divided into two parts - the old and the new. Of particular interest to tourists is the old part, represented by historical monuments of architecture. Today, tourists from all over the world come to Cagliari to look at the two "Leaning Towers of Pisa" in the city center - Elephantia and San Pancrazio - the Cathedral of the XIII century, Bastion San Remy, the Roman amphitheater, built in the 2nd century, the Cathedral of Santa Maria di Castello and the National Archaeological Museum.

Modern Cagliari is spread over 9 limestone hills along the coast Tyrrhenian Sea. The most famous hills are Mount Urpinu, Cape Sant'Elia, listed as a European natural monument, and the hill of San Michele with a beautiful medieval castle.

The main beach of the city is called Poetto. This is an eight-kilometer sandy beach in the eastern part of the city with a turquoise sea, numerous coastal bars, picturesque hills with ancient ruins. Poetto is considered one of the best beaches in Sardinia. The resort areas of the city also include the towns of Villasimius, Pula, Jeremias, Mari Pintau, Marina di Capitana, Chia and some other beaches.

Apart from beautiful architecture, natural reserves and picturesque beaches, Cagliari boasts a succession of fashionable boutiques, lively clubs and discos, as well as romantic restaurants and pizzerias. For example, in Cagliari there is a lace shop that has been selling snow-white fabric patterns for more than a century. There are also excellent confectioneries, jewelry and wineries. The main trade artery of the city is ViaRoma, where the largest supermarket and a large number of small shops are located. On Sundays, there is a flea market at Bastion San Remy.

Based: ser. 9th century
Square: 134 km 2
Population: 153,758 people (2013)
Currency: Euro
Language: Italian, Sardinian
Off.site: http://www.comune.cagliari.it/

Current time in Cagliari:
(UTC+2)

Cagliari loves various festivities and solemn events. For example, locals For more than 350 years, every year from May 1 to May 4, the main event in the city has been celebrated - Saint Efisio Festival. It is on these days that a costumed festive procession passes through the streets of the city, during which the statue of St. Ephisius is carried. This holiday attracts guests from all over the island. Traditionally, the statue is transferred from Cagliari to Nora, where people also gather to honor the memory of the saint, and then the statue is returned back. The official day of the city is October 30, the celebration of which coincides with the day of St. Saturnino.

Cagliari is the most important, the largest and, perhaps, the most beautiful city islands of Sardinia. It spreads along the southern coast of the Campidano plain, along the Gulf of Angels. Locals call their city in the old Sardinian way - Casteddu - which means Palace, and themselves Casteddai. Like all great cities, Cagliari is located on seven hills: Castello, Bonaria, San Michele, Monte Urpinu, Sant" Elia and Tuvijeddu. Every hill hides ancient secrets, stories and legends that Sardis are happy to tell their guests. The historic center of Cagliari is divided into four historical quarters: Castello, Marina (Marine) Quarter, Stampace Quarter and Villanova Quarter. Each of the quarters was once fenced with tall fortifications, but having become part of Italy, the Cagliaritan walls destroyed and united all four quarters into single historical center, starting with Via Roma (Street of Rome).

And the history of Cagliari began in 7th century BC when on South coast Phoenicians landed in Sardinia, wishing to start bartering with the native inhabitants of Sardinia. The Phoenicians occupied free land along the coast in Sardinia and built small towns - settlements. Thus was born Caralis, stone city on seven hills. Not long Karalis belonged to the Phoenicians, as it was attacked by the warriors of Carthage, and the indigenous population was pushed inland, into the mountainous central regions, which are now called Barbagia. A in the 2nd century BC. era, the city went to the Romans, who fortified and expanded it, at that time the first roads, bridges, wells and cisterns were built on the island to collect drinking water, amphitheaters and other important public buildings. It was under the Romans that the city began to be called Calaris. The main city under the Romans was located in what is now the Stampace quarter, which in those days was called Santa Igia. The Carthaginians tried several times to oust the Romans from the city, destroying everything in their path. Therefore, changing the defense and location, the Romans also fortified the Castello hill.

Kalaris passed along with the island from one conqueror to another, changing its appearance, language and borders. Indigenous people always oppressed and pushed back into hard-to-reach mountainous areas. So after the Romans, Sardinia went to the Vandals, then the Byzantines. But for Byzantium Sardinia island was too inconspicuous point on the map, so Sardinia was forced to go into self-government, and in XI century was conquered Pisans. It was the Pisans who made a great contribution to the construction of the city center and its architectural style. Main historical center Castello still preserved the walls of the defensive bastion and some buildings that convey the unique spirit of that time, such as Pancrazio and Elephant Towers (Torre di San Pancrazio e Torre del Elefante), as well as the walls Cathedral of Saint Mary (Catedrale di Santa Maria), which was built in the Pisan period on the site of a small church that has existed here since the 8th century. At first 14th century Sardinia was given to Aragon as a ransom for Sicily. Kalaris did not immediately give up, but still was captured by aggressive Aragonese who continued the construction of defensive walls, arsenal fortifications, bastions, prisons and the Jewish ghetto. It was during Aragonese rule that the city received its final name. Cagliari and was unconditionally recognized capital of the island of Sardinia. During the reign of the Italian Savoy dynasty the historical center began to take on new architectural outlines, arched structures and administrative buildings were built. Finally, the high dividing walls between the historical quarters were destroyed, built Bastion of Sant Remi), a seaside bridge and promenade area was built in the form of arched porticos on Via Roma. Already at the beginning 19th century the city took on the shape of a modern European city. It is unfortunate that Cagliari and its historical heritage were badly damaged by numerous bombings of the times Second World War. In fascist Cagliari a large number of not only residential buildings, but also temples were destroyed. After the end of the war, the capital of the island was rebuilt, almost completely preserving the ancient outlines of the historical center. Now Cagliari fashionable European resort with developed infrastructure.

Sea port and airport Cagliari annually receives several million tourists from all over the world. Capital of Sardinia offers its guests a full variety of services at the highest level. Everything is here - large shopping centers and boutiques, museums and theaters, upscale hotels and restaurants, eight kilometers of gorgeous sandy beach! Italian Cagliari- filled with sunlight, sea wind and incendiary music of the dance floors - a comfortable, young and very modern city!

But it is worth wandering into one of the narrow streets of the historical center or going down from Castello to maritime quarter (quartiere marina), and immediately lost all modern pathos. Here time seems to have stopped and the life of the Sardinian city Cagliari flows slowly and smoothly. Like many centuries ago, passers-by are invited to trade shops with local goods, the doors to small craft workshops are open, restaurants are crowded and clumsily arranged their tables, the aroma of Mediterranean cuisine is in the air, and after dinner everything is the same siesta...

Quartiere Villanova.

Walk through the historical quartersCagliari, Sardinia Island, Italy.

Today our path lies in one of historical quarters capitals of Sardinia Villanova quarter (Villanova di Cagliari).

The area of Villanova, east of the historic center of Castello, has been inhabited since ancient times by peasants who cultivated the vast fields and vineyards that surrounded its territory. In this area of the city you will not find majestic buildings, but during the Holy Week, the streets of the area become the center of city celebrations. A mixture of Spanish and Italian architectural styles, as a reminder of the complex history of Cagliari, where ancient narrow streets keep the memory of the Roman period, Spanish colonization and the beginning of Italian rule. Now it is one of the many districts of Cagliari, where citizens and guests of the city like to walk. Numerous architectural monuments make the walk not only pleasant, but also educational.

Villanova is home to one of the most ancient monuments of religious architecture in Sardinia - the Basilica of San Saturnino (Basilica di San Saturnino, V century), unfortunately, the church and the necropolis are closed to the public.

Not far from the Basilica di San Saturnino, there is another most important Catholic cathedral for Cagliari - the Church of St. Lucifer (Chiesa di San Lucifero, 17th century), decorated with a bronze door depicting saints.

Church of St. Giacomo (Chiesa di San Giacomo, XV century),

The remains of the Crypt and the Monastery of Saint Domenico, an example of the Gothic - Catalan style, destroyed by bombing during the Second World War in 1943. (Chiostro di San Domenico, insieme alla cripta, XIII century),

Church of St. Domenico, built over the ruined church (Chiesa di San Domenico, 1952-1954),

Church of St. Giovanni Battista (Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista, XVI century),

Church of St. Cesello (Chiesa di San Cesello, early 18th century),

Church of St. Mauro (Chiesa di San Mauro, XVII century),

Church of St. Rocco (Chiesa di San Rocco, XVII century).

Cagliari is unforgettable vacation in one of the heavenly backyards of the world. No matter how surprising it may sound and look, but here in Sardinia there are still wild horses, pink flamingos and seals. In Italy, and especially in Cagliari, travelers are attracted by absolutely everything: the wonderful nature on the island, the purest sea of magnificent emerald color and white sand on the beaches.

So, Cagliari is the administrative center and the most Big city in Sardinia. In this city, as in, every tourist will find the appropriate entertainment for himself, which is presented here in a variety of forms and for every taste: numerous excursions, high-class hotels located on the seashore, restaurants, night bars, discos, shops that offer vacationers goods from the most famous stylists of the country.

What else can you dream of on vacation when you want to relax and fully enjoy all the delights of life?

Climate of Cagliari

The mild and even dry Mediterranean (subtropical) climate in Cagliari is due to the fact that the city is located very, very close to the sea. Even in the sky it is quite rare to see a large cloud cover.

A short and not very severe winter allows you to receive guests almost all year round. The warmest time of the year in Cagliari: June-September months, when the air temperature fluctuates between +26 C...+30 C during the day, and at night drops to +16 C...+19 C.

In winter (December-March), during the daytime, the air temperature varies from +13 C to +16 C in the daytime and at night - from +5 C to +7 C.

Precipitation is mainly observed in the cold season, that is, in winter.

How to get to Cagliari

The most optimal and most convenient means of transportation, of course, is an airplane that will take travelers to Rome or some other cities in the country. The only exception is summer season when charter direct flights fly from Moscow.

At any other time of the year, you need to get to Milan, Rome, Florence, Verona, Pisa, Venice or Turin and from there, with the help of Alitalia, Easyjet, Ryanair or Meridiana airlines, go to Cagliari. Can you get here from

Buses run from the airport to the city every half an hour. They will deliver tourists to their destination in just 10 minutes. You can also get there by taxi.

In addition to the plane, you can choose to travel by sea. Ferries leave for the Sardinian capital once every two days in the evening to deliver passengers to Cagliari by morning. The ticket price is about 150 euros.

Basic prices for travelers to Cagliari

In Cagliari, as in all of Sardinia, according to not only tourists, but also most local residents, prices in many establishments and shops are slightly, or maybe not slightly, overpriced.

In beach bars, as well as in most restaurants in the city, hot dishes will cost tourists 20-30 euros per person. And this is absolutely without any chic, that is, quite modestly. Additionally, in such establishments (almost all) you need to pay for the service - 1 euro. But it should be borne in mind that after paying for your order, choosing something else additionally, you will need to give 1 euro again.

Of course, you can find restaurants and cafes in which, for the same 20-30 euros, lunch will be bigger and more impressive.

Breakfast usually consists of a muffin, coffee and a glass of mineral water. And its cost is about 3 euros.

An important role in the price level is played by the location of establishments from the tourist flow. You also need to know that in shops and supermarkets prices will be slightly lower than, for example, in cafes or bars.

So, the cost of a glass of draft beer is 4.5 euros. A cup of coffee will cost a tourist 1 euro, and a glass of Coca-Cola 2.5-3 euros. You will have to pay about 3-5 euros for a sandwich, and 1.4 euros for a liter of gasoline.

Renting sun loungers and umbrellas for a day will cost tourists 8 euros, and renting a car will ruin a vacationer by 60 euros and more.

But in terms of hotels - the situation is quite tolerable and the prices are quite reasonable. Among the popular 4-star hotels stand out Holiday Inn Cagliari, Hotel Panorama and T Hotel, where the room rate is from 2022 rubles, 2982 rubles. and 5003 rubles. respectively.

The best three-star hotels are Hotel Italia and Hotel Due Colonne. In them, for a daily stay in a room, you will have to pay from 2729 rubles. and 3537 rubles.

The most popular 2-star hotel is HotelLa Terrazza, where rooms cost from 2476 rubles. per day.

The most interesting and beautiful places in Cagliari

Those who come to Cagliari to relax are sure to try to spend several days or several hours a day on excursions to the most interesting, popular and most beautiful sights of the city.

Among the most visited places in Cagliari are:

Cathedral, which is the residence of the archbishop of the city. It is also called St. Mary's Cathedral. The temple was erected in the XIII century and several different styles were combined in it at once: Romanesque-Gothic, Baroque and others;

The church of St. Efisio has a modest facade, as well as an ascetic interior. The temple was erected in honor of a Roman soldier who converted to the Christian faith and was executed for this. The church, as the legend says, stands on the spot where there used to be a prison, in which the former soldier was imprisoned;

City fortress. In the Middle Ages, these walls surrounded the city. Today, towers have been preserved in it, which look especially majestic;

Bastion San Remi - strengthening of the city fortress. From here you can admire the surroundings and the city itself.

The fortress of San Michele, erected in the 10th century, it has three towers and is currently used as a place where exhibitions are held;

Church of San Michele, built in the 16th century. It is decorated in the Rococo style;

St. Anne's Church is the largest in the city. It was erected in the XVIII century. The temple is decorated in the Baroque style and twin bell towers are installed on both sides of the facade.

The attractions don't stop there. They can be listed for a long time. Better to see all these architectural masterpieces personally and remember your trip for a long time.

It is difficult to visit Sardinia and pass by the capital of this Italian region- the city of Cagliari. This is not only the most interesting and beautiful city of the island, but also the main transport hub. Only in the city of Olbia in the north of Sardinia has its own international airport, and so all roads lead here. And since you are here, I will tell you everything you need about Cagliari - attractions, accommodation, transport, food and shopping.

The airport is located just a couple of kilometers within the city, all suburban trains pass him by. There are long intervals, but usually the waiting time is about half an hour. A train ticket (2 stops) costs 1.25 euros, the journey takes 5-7 minutes. From the city past the airport goes the main highway of the island, connecting Largest cities Sardinia - Cagliari-Oristano, and then two branches - to Nuoro and Olbia and to Sassari.

Cagliari Airport

Main Train Station The city, very deserted, is located almost in the center of Cagliari. The center of the city is considered to be a fortress on a rock (upper city) and several adjacent areas, in the latter, except for one church of the Archangel Michael built in the 16th century (consecrated in the 18th century) and the Roman amphitheater, there is nothing more to see. So for impressions and views you need to go to the city on the rock. You can get here in four ways - the gates in the north, west and south and through the Saint Remy bastion, but it is closed for reconstruction and, judging by the pace of restoration, will not open soon.

Bastion Saint Remy

Church of St. Michael

The old city boasts a very pretty cathedral and views of the rest of the city, the sea and the mountains. There is also a prefecture where they let you in for 1.5 euros, but there is almost nothing to see there. There are also many small churches in Cagliari.

One of the main squares of the city is Palace Square, where the prefecture is located. The square itself is essentially a parking lot. There is a cathedral on the adjacent square one level below (10 meters to the right of the photo point)

Prefecture

This is what the natives of Sardinia looked like

Church of the Order of Malta

Church of the Holy Cross, a former synagogue in the Jewish ghetto

The Cathedral of St. Mary and Cecilia itself was built in the 13th century in the Pisan style, but in the 17th and 18th centuries it was greatly updated, having received internal baroque outlines.

Cathedral

Some of the rulers of Sardinia are buried in the crypt of the cathedral

Medieval inscription on the outer wall of the cathedral

The mentioned views can be found from the walls in the west and east of the old city. But, if you really want a "fairy tale", then you need to climb one of medieval towers. There are two in the city. But the western one in the city center (the tower of the Elephant at the gate of the same name) is much lower, so it’s worth climbing the tower located at the northern gate - torre S. Pancrazio. There is also a Spur tower, but it is indistinguishable from an ordinary house.

Tower of St. Pankrat

Elephant Tower

See the elephant?

Remains of the Roman period are few, in fact, only the amphitheater remains. It is located next to the northern gate, the terrain perfectly hides it, and even from the towers it is not visible. Entrance costs 5 euros, students under 26 and over 65 - 3.5. Access only with a guide. This is a very intrusive service in Sardinia, almost all the sights can only be viewed with a guide who does not know your language and even English is difficult for them, but they walk with you and chatter something in a wild mixture of Italian and English, and the most primitive - this is a house, this is a column. So, they won’t let you walk, you go downstairs, go to the place of the stage and after 10 minutes they will tell you - the tour is over. But there is really nothing to see there. The amphitheater is carved into the rock and is now converted into a modern concert venue, that is, the base is antique, and the modern flooring is on top. It makes no sense to pay money for this, the amphitheater is perfectly visible from the fence at the box office.

There are also city and archaeological museums at the northern gate, but the second one is closed, the first one, honestly, did not visit. Usually regional museums are not particularly interesting.

Archaeological Museum

traces of the past

Shops can be found in the Via Iglesias area near the Saint Remy bastion, in the same place in the Via Olbia area you can also find the grocery store closest to the center - Pam, if I'm not mistaken. There are cafes and restaurants in the quarter between Via Roma and the Old Town. There are only two shops in the city. Hypermarket Auchan is located in the north of the city, about 3 km from the center, open until 9. If you are by car (and you can do without it in Sardinia), then any road from the city passes by it. Nearby there is a second railway station of the city, you can try to walk on foot. I have already written about Pam. At night, you can find establishments with vending machines with food and water, sometimes it helps.

Main shopping street of Cagliari

In Cagliari, I spent the night in several places, but it was difficult to choose the best combination of price and quality. There are not many places, something is busy. But the best choice I did before leaving. Stayed in a small guest house in the city center - Sa Domu Cheta. Very comfortable and cozy rooms with Sardinian flavor in an old stone house. Excellent breakfast. Inexpensive. Convenient check-in and check-out time. Excellent WiFi. Excellent English speaking administrator and very nice hosts who helped me out in a difficult situation. Of what there is in the center in Cagliari, this is perhaps the best accommodation option - I recommend it!

Pay attention to hand embroidery on pillowcases

Amazingly delicious apple pie for breakfast the hostess cooks herself

I can’t say that there are so many interesting things in Sardinia, the locals are interesting here megalithic buildings, the same age as the Egyptian pyramids, beautiful nature, but almost all cities are boring. Cagliari, I'm not afraid of such an assessment - the most interesting city in Sardinia. It is worth stopping here to live a little, to feel like a proud citizen of the Sardinian kingdom.

And remember, if you rent a car, do not rent it from companies Avis And budget- they're customer money!

The sights of Cagliari are the bright sun, rocky shores, lush Mediterranean vegetation, the cleanest beaches. And, of course, architecture, which harmoniously combined the styles of not only different eras, but also peoples. Due to the fact that the city for centuries was a convenient stop on the busy sea route from Europe to Africa, battles were constantly fought for the right to own it, and it itself passed from hand to hand, which could not but affect its sights.

The main square of Cagliari is the Palace Square (Piazza Palazzo). Here is the Royal Palace (Palazzo Regio). In the old days, representatives of the nobility built their houses around it, built the town hall, the Cathedral, the archbishop's house and other important services for the life of the city.

Opposite the Cathedral, near the former town hall, to Palace Square adjoins a small square - Piazza Carlo Alberto. Here, in the old days, executions were carried out, incl. nobles were beheaded.

Piazza Palazzo has been rebuilt many times. The last significant changes took place after the Second World War due to the fact that many buildings were badly damaged by the bombing. As a result, part of the historic houses were demolished, the area was expanded. However, Piazza Palazzo has managed to retain its medieval flavor. And to emphasize the antiquity of Palace Square, cars have recently been banned from entering here: now it is a pedestrian zone.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace (Palazzo Regio) was built in the first half of the 14th century. by order of Peter IV of Aragon (Pietro IV d'Aragona), - and since then, kings have lived here for five centuries. At the beginning of the 19th century, when Napoleon's troops occupied Turin (Torino), there was the residence of the Savoy ruling house (Casa Savoia).

In 1885, the Palazzo Regio passed into the hands of the city, due to which the interior rooms underwent a major restoration: it was decided to house the prefecture (Prefettura) and the administration of the province of Cagliari (Città metropolitana di Cagliari) in the building. The Council Rooms were decorated by artist Domenico Bruschi with allegorical frescoes.

It is not easy to get inside the palace: you must first arrange an excursion. Sometimes concerts are held here. In this case, you can see the inside of the house where the kings lived after buying a ticket.

Church of St. Mary

Cathedral of Saint Mary (Cattedrale di Santa Maria) main temple Cagliari. Important Christian shrines are kept here - thorns from the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ, as well as the relics of the Sardinian martyrs. That is why pilgrims come here from all sides.

An attraction appeared in the XIII century. after the Pisans captured the city and destroyed the main temple of Sardinia, dedicated to Saint Kikilia. Accordingly, the city needed a new monastery. She became the church at the citadel of Santa Maria di Castello. After some time, the temple was given the status cathedral, keeping the name.

After that, large-scale transformations began in the cathedral, which ended only in the thirties of the last century. Therefore, the temple bears the features of different eras, and the main facade is decorated in neo-Romanesque style. Inside the cathedral there are elements of baroque and romanesque styles, the interior is dominated by silver tones, original frescoes have been preserved.

At the temple there is the Sanctuary of the Martyrs. There are three chapels here. In one of them, in the chapel of St. Lucifer, equipped with eighty niches where the relics of the saints are kept. There is also a monument to Maria Josephine of Savoy (Maria Giuseppina Luisa di Savoia), who was buried inside the cathedral in 1810. De jure, Maria Josephine was the Queen of France.

Archbishop's Palace

The Archbishop's House (Palazzo Arcivescovile) is located between the cathedral and the Royal Palace, at Piazza Palazzo, 4. It was first mentioned in 1300, but there is every reason to believe that the building appeared much earlier, and the palace was the judge's house.

For a long time it was the residence of the archbishop, but more important people also lived here. For example, in the time of Napoleon, the Sardinian king Carlo Felice lived here, since the Royal Palace could not accommodate the entire courtyard.

The current appearance of the archbishop's palace is largely due to the reconstruction that was carried out in the 30s. last century. On the side wall you can see funerary inscriptions that belong to early Christianity. Inside the palace, you can see the original structure of the ancient facade of the cathedral, the marble staircase in the hallway. The meeting room is famous for its elegant decor and numerous paintings. Various archaeological finds are also stored here.

The former town hall (Antico Palazzo di Città) is located on Piazza Palazzo, 6. The city hall was built in the 14th century. The attraction acquired its current appearance in the 18th century, when the facade was given the appearance of Piedmontese baroque.

At the end of the XIX century. the city hall was moved to a new building on via Roma, and the conservatory (Conservatorio di musica Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina) was placed in the former town hall. In the 70s. of the last century, the educational institution moved to via Bacaredda, and the house was derelict for a long time.

In 2009, the palace was opened to visitors, placing within its walls exhibits of the ethnographic (Fondo Etnografico Manconi Passino), ceramic museums (Fondo Ceramico della Collezione Ingrao), sacred art fund (Fondo d'Arte Sacra della Collezione Ingrao). In the cellars of the building you can see antique tanks in which rain was collected, a medieval floor paved with stones, arched openings decorated in the late Gothic style.

Also here is the office of the mayor of the city.

Churches

There are a lot of ancient temples in Cagliari. Some of them are so old that they appeared long before the birth of Christ. For example, this refers to the crypt-cave where Saint Restituta, one of the first Christians of Sardinia, found her refuge in the fifth century. The church of the patron saint of the city, St. Saturninus, is not much younger: it definitely existed already at the beginning of the sixth century. Other sights of Cagliari are no less interesting, and their appearance is associated with interesting legends.

Basilica of Saint Saturnin

Temple of Saint Saturnino (Basilica di San Saturnino) is an ancient Christian church located on Piazza San Cosimo. Information about this sight is first found in the deacon Ferrando, the biographer of St. Fabius Fulgentius (Fulgenzio di Ruspe), who lived in the VI century. He visited the temple when he stayed at a nearby monastery.

The temple was named in honor of the patron saint of the city, Saint Saturninus (St. Saturninus of Cagliari), not by chance: the basilica was built not far from his burial place, on the site where the martyr was beheaded in 304 for refusing to worship Jupiter.

In the XI century. the temple passed to the Benedictines, who restored the church in the Romanesque style. In 1324, the monastery, which was at the church, was destroyed during the hostilities - and the temple for a long time was in disrepair, until in the XVIII century. services have not resumed.

In 1943, the basilica was heavily bombed. After the war, it was restored and opened to parishioners. Now weddings are often held here. For visitors, the temple is open on Saturday from 10 to 13 and from 15.30 to 19.30

Sanctuary of Our Lady (Santuario di Nostra Signora di Bonaria) is a complex. It consists of a small 14th century church. and a large temple adjacent to its walls, which has the status of a small papal basilica. The attraction is located on Piazza Bonaria.

The appearance of the church dates back to the time of the conquest of Sardinia by King Alfonso of Aragon (Alfonso d'Aragona), who expelled the Pisans from here. In 1335, he gave the monks from the Mercedarian order a small church and a monastery attached to it.

In March 1370, a Spanish ship sailing in the Mediterranean was caught in a storm. He was so strong that the sailors decided to throw all the cargo overboard, including the heavy box. As soon as he was overboard, the storm subsided. The box washed up on the shores of Cagliari, not far from the church. The monks found it, and when they opened it, they found a wooden sculpture of the Virgin, who held the baby Jesus in one hand, and a lit candle in the other.

Since those times Basilica of Our Lady in Bonaria became a place of worship for pilgrims and sailors, and a nearby temple was erected to store the sculpture. Its construction began in 1704 and ended in 1926. It is the largest basilica on the island.

Church of the Archangel Michael

The Church of the Archangel Michael (Chiesa di San Michele), which is located on Via Ospedale, 2, originally belonged to the Jesuits. Adjacent to it is a military hospital, which in former times was the House of the Jesuit Obedience (ex Casa del noviziato).

The construction of the temple began in 1674 and dragged on for forty years. The church was consecrated in 1738, as evidenced by a memorial plate placed to the right of the portal. In the niche of the upper part of the facade, you can see the sculpture of St. Michael. In one hand he holds a sword (a symbol of faith), in the other - a scale (a sign of justice).

The temple was built in the Baroque style, its interior decoration is extremely luxurious in the Rococo style. Inside, ancient frescoes, sculptures, stucco, and a beautiful mosaic dome attract attention. The walls of the temple are lined with multi-colored marble. Its eight chapels are connected by a long covered gallery that runs along the perimeter of the temple. There is also a pulpit here, from which Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (Carlo d'Asburgo) spoke in 1535 before a campaign against pirates. The pulpit was brought here from the church of St. Francis, which was destroyed in the XIX century.

Crypt of Saint Restituta

The cave crypt and the church of St. Restituta (Cripta e Chiesa di Santa Restituta) can be found on Via S. Efisio. Everything here is imbued with antiquity: the cave was used for religious rites in pre-Christian times. This place is gloomy, gloomy, the special atmosphere is emphasized by the echo of drops falling from the vaults. In the V Art. Saint Restituta, considered one of the first Christians in Sardinia, took refuge here. On the walls of the crypt you can see her image: in the XIII century. The cave was decorated with frescoes. There are also altars dating back to the fifth century.

The crypt was used as a temple until the end of the 13th century, after which it was abandoned. In the XVII century. a temple was built over it. His appearance is connected with the rivalry for the title of primate of Sardinia and Corsica (il titolo di primate di Sardegna e Corsica) between the archbishops of Cagliari and Sassari (Sassari). In the course of their rivalry, they organized the excavation of ancient burial places and places where early Christians celebrated rituals. During these searches, the relics of St. Restitutes (although many people question the claims that the remains belong to the saint).
During the Second World War, the townspeople hid in the cave from the bombings. Today, the crypt is open for tourists, admission is free, it works in the morning. The church is closed: it is being restored.

Church of St. Anne

The Collegiate Church of Saint Anna (La collegiata di Sant'Anna) can be found on Via Domenico Alberto Azuni. This is the parish church of the Stampace district, which is located in the upper part of the historical center.

The history of the basilica began in the 13th century, when the townspeople built a small church on a hill. Five centuries later, they decided to demolish it in order to erect a more spacious building in the Piedmont Baroque style. Construction took a long time due to lack of funds. The right bell tower was built only in 1938.

As a result, the mention of the construction of the temple became a household word. When the townspeople use the phrase: "La costruzione di Sant'Anna", they are sarcastically talking about something endless that will never end, comparing the event under discussion to the long and hectic construction of the Stampace parish church.

As soon as the opening of the temple took place, the Second World War, - and numerous bombardments caused serious damage to the structure. Therefore, after the end of hostilities, the temple had to be restored. Reopening of the Church of St. Anna took place in 1951.

Inside the temple there are many works of art. Among them is the multi-colored altar in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a neoclassical black altar dedicated to Duke Amadeus IX of Savoy (Amedeo IX di Savoia il Beato). Also here you can see wooden sculptures Saints James and Anna (santi Anna e Gioacchino) with Jesus in their arms, a painting by Giovanni Marghinotti, which depicts the Redeemer among the angels.

Church of St. Augustine (Chiesa di Sant'Agostino) is located on Via Lodovico Baylle, 80. The facade of the basilica is unremarkable, so a tourist may well pass by the temple without recognizing it places of worship. However, the church of St. Augustine is the only example of Renaissance architecture in the city.

The temple was built in the 16th century, and it was originally conceived as a hermitage, which explains the simple appearance of the facade that faces the east side. There is also a more interesting entrance from Largo Carlo Felice, which leads to the temple's original courtyard. Inside the church there are many frescoes, a ceiling trimmed with rosettes. Not fully plastered walls enhance the feeling of antiquity. The altar, decorated in the Baroque style, also stands out, there are several statues of saints.

Recently, scientists found traces of ancient Roman buildings from the church. Therefore, archaeological work is constantly being carried out around it, which is why the temple is periodically closed to the public.

Defense structures

Since Sardinia was often attacked, to protect Cagliari at the beginning of the 14th century. built fortifications: powerful fortresses, bastions, towers, walls. They not only protected from enemy attacks, but were also used as an observation post. From the towers were clearly visible as sea spaces, as well as dry land.

And only after the island became part of united Italy in 1861, the city lost the status of a "defensive fortress". Therefore, it was decided to demolish part of the walls. Those of them that did not interfere with the development of urban architecture were preserved.

The Fortress of St. Michael (Castello di San Michele) is located on a hill, on the slopes of which there is a park of the same name. The attraction is located four kilometers from the city center on Via Sirai.

Along the edges medieval castle three towers can be seen. A moat was dug in front of its walls. This is the oldest fortress of Cagliari that has survived to this day.: it was built in the tenth century. At first, the castle was used only as a defensive structure. Then the fortress from 1350 to 1511. became the residence of the noble family of Carroz. At this time, a park appeared here.

In the 17th century a plague broke out in the city, and it was decided to use the fortress, which by that time had been abandoned for a long time, like a hospital. In other words, to isolate the sick in it. At the end of the epidemic, the castle was fortified to fight against the French in the 17th-18th centuries. In 1940, the navy was based here.

Currently, the building is well preserved and open to tourists. Temporary exhibitions and theatrical performances are held here. The hill overlooks the surroundings.

The San Pancrazio Tower (Torri di San Pancrazio) is located on Piazza dell'Indipendenza, at the highest point of the Castello quarter. The landmark was built by the Pisans in 1305 to protect Cagliari from Saracen pirates and the Genoese. Its three walls are solid to defend the city, narrow small holes are made in them. The fourth, facing Castello, has balconies on four tiers. At the bottom of the building is the gate of the same name, through which in former times it was possible to get to Castello.

San Pancrazio is the most high tower Cagliari: at the moment, its height is 36 m, the thickness of the walls is 3 m. In former times, it was much higher, but the bombardments of the British attacking the city (1701), the Spaniards (1717) partially destroyed it. In 1793, when Napoleon's troops attacked Cagliari, San Pancrazio lost its peak.

When the Aragonese dynasty began to rule the city, a prison was marked out in San Pancrazio. In 1906 the building was restored. Now the tower is open for tourists, and from its observation deck opens great view in Cagliari and surroundings.

The Elephant Tower (Torre dell'Elefante) is located on Piazza S. Giuseppe. This is the second largest tower of Cagliari: its height is 31 m. The attraction was built in 1307, and named after one of the symbols (Pisa) - an elephant, whose sculpture was installed 10 meters above the ground.

Many people call Torre dell'Elefante the twin of San Pancrazio: it also has four tiers, three blank walls, one with balconies. Below is the portal that served as the entrance to the Castello. It also has a similar fate: at one time it also housed a prison. Not far from the tower on Piazza Carlo Alberto was a place of execution, and the heads of severed people were hung on its walls. Some of them had fun there for several years. Therefore, locals believe that on windy nights, the voices of their souls are heard from the site where people died.

Now access to the tower for tourists is open. Climbing up is hard, but the view of the city streets and the bay is enchanting.

Bastion di San Remy is located on Piazza Costituzione. It was built at the end of the 19th century. instead of the dismantled fortress walls that connected Castello with other quarters of Cagliari. The bastion got its name thanks to the Baron of San Remy, the governor of Piedmont (Piedonte), on whose orders the attraction appeared.

The Bastione di San Remy is an imposing structure flanked by high arched windows. A double staircase leads up and ends near the Arc de Triomphe, bypassing which you can get to the Umberto I terrace with benches and palm trees. From here you have a magnificent view of the surroundings. From the rear, the bastion looks absolutely impregnable - these are powerful walls rising above sheer cliffs.

There is a covered passage inside the building. At first, a banquet hall was located here, during the First World War - a first-aid post. In the 40s. 20th century here lived people whose homes were destroyed by the war. Now the covered passage has been restored, and art exhibitions are held here.

Citadel of Museums

Several Cagliari museums are housed in the building of the former Citadel, which is why museum complex called La Cittadella dei Musei. The fortress is located at the highest point of the Castello district, the entrance is from Piazza Arsenale, 1 (Piazza Arsenale).

The Citadel appeared in the 18th century. on the site of the dismantled defense structures. Until 1825, an arsenal was located in its camps. During the Second World War, the building was often the target of air raids and bombardments. The restoration of the fortress began in 1965 and dragged on for fourteen years.
Currently, the following expositions are located within the walls of the former fortress:

Archaeological Museum;
Anatomical Museum wax figures"Susini";
National Art Gallery;
Stefano Cardu Art Museum of Siamese Art.

Also in the Citadel there are rooms for temporary exhibitions, conferences, a restaurant. Since the fortress is located on a mountain, a magnificent panorama opens up before the visitors of the old fortress.

Archaeological Museum

National Archaeological Museum(Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari) is located on Piazza Arsenale, 1. There are unique exhibits here - bronze figures and other artifacts that date back to the Nuraghe era. It got its name from the type of towers that were common on the island from the second half of the 2nd millennium BC. e. and up to the 8th century. BC.

The history of the museum began in 1800, when Viceroy Carlo Felice organized an office of archeology and natural history in the halls of the Viceregio Palace. Two years later, the exhibits of the museum became open to the public. In 1806, the exposition was presented to the university, after which it moved to the palazzo Belgrano.

The museum ended up on Arsenalnaya Square in 1993. Its exhibits are located on three floors and arranged in such a way that the visitor in chronological order gets acquainted with the history of Sardinia from the Neolithic to the late antiquity. Among the exhibits are pottery, a Phoenician faience necklace, Punic and Roman coins.

Anatomical Wax Museum "Susini"

IN anatomical museum wax figures. Clemente Susini” (Museo delle cere anatomiche intitolato a Clemente Susini) has one of the most interesting collections in the world. Here are fragments of the human body molded from wax (head, muscles, pharynx, liver, etc.), which give a detailed idea of what different organs look like.

The collection appeared between 1801 and 1805. thanks to the initiative of Professor Francesco Boi. Above wax sculptures worked in the artist Clemente Susini (Clemente Susini). In Cagliari, the models he created arrived in 1805 and were in the museum for about half a century. Royal Palace. Then the exhibits were handed over to the university, and they were transferred to the Palazzo Belgrano. After that, the museum moved several more times until it ended up in the Citadel.

The National Art Gallery (Pinacoteca nazionale) appeared in the second half of the 19th century, when many church valuables passed into state ownership. The museum is located on three floors in chronological order: the oldest exhibits are placed on the last tier.

In the halls of the National Art Gallery, works by Sardinian artists of the 16th-18th centuries are presented. Among them - paintings by Pietro Cavaro (Pietro Cavaro), a local native, one of the most famous painters of Sardinia. There is also a collection of Sardinian and Catalan altar paintings from the 15th-16th centuries. The ethnographic collection attracts attention, among the exhibits of which are Sardinian fabrics, furniture, ceramics, and weapons.

Art Museum of Siamese Art

The Art Museum of Siamese Art (Museo civico d’arte siamese Stefano Cardu) was created after Stefan Cardu donated to the city in 1914 a collection that he had acquired in Siam during a trip to Indochina. First, the exhibits were exhibited in the Municipal Palace (palazzo Civico), then in an art gallery. Since 1981, the exposition has been located in the Citadel.

The Siamese collection consists of paintings that depict different stories from the life of the Ramakien people, manuscripts, Buddhist sculptures made of ivory bronze, wood, silver. There is also a lot of porcelain, various figurines (okimono, netsuke). Of particular interest is the collection of oriental coins and weapons.

Archaeological excavations

Cagliari - very Old city. Numerous excavations testify that the settlement already existed in the 18th century. BC e. First of all, this is evidenced by the world's largest necropolis, which appeared here in the Neolithic era. Also on the territory of the city, archaeologists discovered the ruins of residential buildings, the construction of which dates back to the 1st century BC. BC. The huge amphitheater says that during the Roman Empire, life was in full swing in Cagliari.

The Punic necropolis (Necropoli Punica di Tuvixeddu) is located on a hill, Colle Di Tuvixeddu, which means "hill of small holes" in Sardinian. It is named so not by chance: there are many grave recesses in it. Some of them are decorated with well-preserved bas-reliefs.

In total, on the territory of the necropolis, archaeologists have discovered over a thousand graves, which belong to the Carthaginian and ancient Roman periods.

The first burials appeared here during the Neolithic period, as evidenced by flint tools and pottery found in ancient graves (3800-2900 BC).

The most interesting grave- This is the Serpent's Grotto. Its outer part is decorated with a facade, on the pediment of which two snakes are depicted. Inside there are two burial chambers, on the walls of which you can see inscriptions telling about the people buried here. According to them, a married couple, Atilius and Cassius Philip, are buried here. When the husband became seriously ill, the wife begged the gods to let her die instead of her husband, and they complied with her request. They buried a woman in this hill. Subsequently, when Cassius died, his ashes were buried near Atilius.

The Roman amphitheater (Anfiteatro romano) is located on via Sant'Ignazio da Laconi. The attraction organically fits into the rocks surrounding it. From above, the structure goes around city street which allows you to view it from different angles.

Anfiteatro romano appeared in the I-II centuries. AD, when Sardinia was under the rule of the Roman Empire. Half of the structure was carved into limestone rock, while blocks from local limestone were used to build the southern part. The amphitheater accommodated 10 thousand spectators, and its arenas hosted fights between animals, gladiators, and specially recruited fighters. Here, in front of a crowd of jubilant spectators, death sentences were carried out.

Due to the spread of Christianity, gladiator fights became unpopular, and in 437 they were banned altogether. After that, the amphitheater in Cagliari was abandoned for a long time, and local residents and rulers used its stones to build new structures.

The ruin of the sights took place until the middle of the 19th century, until Anfiteatro romano took over the power and protection of the city. For some time now, various performances have been held here, for which part of the amphitheater was covered with iron and wood. Such actions have caused a lot of criticism from archaeologists, who claim that such structures harm the sights. Now the authorities have revised their position, and restoration is planned soon, aimed at returning the amphitheater to its original appearance.

Villa Tigelia (Villa di Tigellio) is located on Via Tigellio, 18, near the botanical garden and the Roman amphitheater. This place is not a villa in the truest sense of the word: here are the ruins of buildings, the appearance of which dates back to the 1st century BC. BC. Previously, scientists believed that there was a villa of the famous Sardinian musician Tigelius (Tigellio). Later it was found that he had nothing to do with these structures, but the name stuck.

Archaeological studies have confirmed that there were three main buildings that were inhabited until the fourth century. In one of them, scientists found a mosaic floor, frescoes, in the other - plaster decorations, several vertical columns, places for collecting rainwater.

Theaters

There are a lot of theaters in Cagliari, each of which has its own history and takes special place in the life of the city. Almost all of them appeared after the Second World War: theaters that existed before the outbreak of hostilities were destroyed by bombardment. Currently, the main ones are the two temples of Melpomene - the Messimo Theater and the Lyrico Theater.

Messimo Theater

Teatro Massimo is located on Via Edmondo De Magistris. It was built inside the old steam mill of Mr. Merello, who, together with another entrepreneur, Ivo Mazzei, decided to build a theater here.

The construction was completed in 1947. As a result, one of the largest theaters in Italy was created, which was designed for 2.5 thousand, and its area was 4.5 m2. It showed not only theatrical performances, but also movies. In the 70s. the owners of the theater decided to demolish it in order to build several buildings. In 1981, the Massimo Theater was reopened and worked until a serious fire broke out in it, after which the theater was closed.

In 2004, one of the heirs of the founder of the theater, John Merrello, terminated the contract with the heir of the Mazzei family, and began the restoration of the building. At the same time, the external facade, balcony, and some other objects were demolished.

The new theater was opened in 2009. It has two halls. One is designed for 752, the other - for 202 seats. Since then, many opera singers and important theater figures have performed within its walls.

The Teatro Lirico Opera House is located on Via Sant'Alenixedda. It began to be built in 1971 and finished in 1993. The purpose of the construction was to outshine the Civic Theatre, which was destroyed by fire in 1942.

At the moment, Teatro Lirico is a modern building with a capacity of 1650 seats. In addition to the big stage, there are rehearsal rooms, a bar, a restaurant, offices, and a bookstore. The Red Room is designed for conferences and educational events. The library adjoins the main building.

Where to rest

Cagliari is a very green city. Another plus is that many parks are located very close to the center. Walking along the shady alleys, here you can admire the lush Mediterranean vegetation, watch the life of various birds. If you wish, you can go to the beach. Here is one of the longest.