Cagliari Travel Guide

Cagliari is a coastal city in Sardinia, where the breeze gently blows through the palm trees and caper bushes grow along the walls. Take a leisurely stroll through the 'Castello' (castle) area at both the heart and the highest point of Cagliari and enjoy the city view, admire the blue of the Gulf of Angels or watch boats coming and going from the mainland to the port below.

To understand our diverse cultural heritage you only need to walk through the streets of the Castello district, between the old Sardo-Pietmontese government buildings, the Pisan towers, and Spanish palaces, or visit the Roman amphitheatres or the biggest Phoenician and Punic Necropolis in the Mediterranean, Tuvixeddu. In summer the African heat in the afternoon disperses the town's inhabitants and visitors from the streets, with many taking refuge in the sea at the long beach at Poetto. In the evening the city comes alive with music as local musicians play in many of the numerous bandstands, becoming the focus for the city's healthy 'movida' or nightlife.

10 Things to See and Do
Walk along Poetto Beach
San Remy Bastione
Cathedral Santa Maria
Wander around the Castello area
The Archeological Museum
The little Church of Sant’Efisio in the Stampace area
The Elephant Tower and St Pancrazio Tower
Watch the flamingoes at sunset at Santa Gilla pond
The Devil's Saddle - a promontory at the end of Poetto Beach
Tuvixeddu: the largest Punica Necropolis in the Mediterranean
 

Events in Cagliari

May
On May 1st, the famous festival takes place for St Efisio, the Patron Saint of the Island. Legend has it that St Efisio, a soldier from Asia Minor, saved the inhabitants of Calgiari from the Great Plague of 1652 and every year this sacred remembrance is celebrated with much merriment by the local population.The main event is a procession which is led by a figure of St Efisio travelling in his golden carriage. People wearing traditional costume follow behind on foot, horseback or on antique floats which are decorated and pulled by oxen.
The women wear sparkling dresses decorated with coral jewellery and lace whilst the men wear costumes made of velvet and wool. In front of the city gate, in Via Roma, the procession continues along a carpet of flowers accompanied by the sound of music from 'launeddas', a traditional Sardinian instrument made from reeds.St Efisio died at Nora, a nearby town, and it is here that the procession heads to conclude the festival with a more reserved religious service.

Local Food Specialities

Spaghetti with sea riches
A local Cagliarian dish that you can find for sale in any of the little kiosks along Poetto Beach. The recipe is simple: fry some garlic, parsley and chilli pepper to which you add mashed fresh sea food, typically sardines. Serve as a dressing for pasta, especially Spaghetti.
Burrida
A fish soup based on dogfish, more well-known in Cagliari than catfish. It is boiled in a pan, whilst a hot sauce is prepared with ground nuts and liver. The true secret to making this original dish is leaving it covered for at least a day before serving.

Spotlight on the Salt works at Molentargius
Cagliari is surrounded by wetlands and ponds, the significant of which is Molentargius. Home to nesting aquatic birds, like pink flamingos and airone, this protected area near Poetto beach has an important place in the history of Cagliari.
Salt was mined here from Phonecian times and you can still see traces of the ancient extraction systems, including ancient bore holes, canals, and an iron bridge. Production methods changed with industrialisation and a workers' village was constructed destroying some of the environment, until finally production stopped at the end of the World War II. Since 1999, the area has been designated a protected area but part of its industrial heritage is preserved with the Teatro delle Saline, or Theatre of the Saltworks.

How to get there
Cagliari is in the South of Sardegna, in the Gulf of Angels.
By air: The International Aiport of Elmas is just a few kilometres away with daily flights from Rome and Milan, and is also well connected to Venice, Bologna, Florence and Naples. International flights also arrive from London, Barcelona, Monaco, and Paris. Low cost airlines including Ryanair, Easyjet, Windjet, Meridiana and TUI fly also offer a summer service. From the airport the city is easily reachable with a shuttle bus, taxi or hire car.
By boat: There are daily crossings from Civitavecchia and regular crossings from Naples. You can also travel from Palermo and Trapani, which provide a weekly service.
By Bus: The main bus station is next to the port, where you can take connections to most of the main places in Sardegna, such as Sassari, Nuoro and Oristano, and there are also some services to the more remote places.
By Train: A short distance away is the main train station that connects Cagliari to the North of Sardinia and Sulcis Iglesiente. You can also take a local bus service to Poetto Beach.