Holidays in Sardinia: 4 Top Sights in Cagliari
Holidays in Sardinia's capital city, Cagliari, are an exciting introduction to the island. Like any city, there are countless sites of historic, religious, and cultural interest, as well as fine dining and shopping. Four sights and events to consider adding to the itinerary are the Old Town, the Basilica of San Saturnino, the National Archaeological Museum and the May procession of the Feast of Sant'Efis.
Old Town
The old town of Cagliari is on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Cagliari, one of the seven hills that the city was built on. Most of the old town's white limestone walls are still standing, with two 14th century AD towers: the Torre dell'Elefante and the Torre di San Pancrazio. The view of the white walls gleaming in the sun with the sea in the background has inspired past writers to poetic comparisons. The old town is an excellent place to begin holidays in Sardinia's capital city.
Basilica of San Saturnino
The Basilica of San Saturnino is a piece of the island's early Christian history. Built in the 5th century AD and first mentioned in the early 6th century, it is likely to have been erected near the site of Saint Saturninus of Cagliari's burial. It is recorded in the medieval Passio sancti Saturni that he was martyred in the early 4th century, and he has since become the city's patron saint. Parts of the original building remain amid additions and repairs done over the centuries, making the Basilica of San Saturnino a very interesting historical sight on holidays in Sardinia for those with an interest in the early centuries of Christianity.
National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari is the premier museum for artefacts found around the island's many ancient sites. Whether or not visitors' holidays in Sardinia take them to the nuraghi, domus de janas, Roman ruins and Byzantine churches around the island, the museum is well worth a visit. Its outstanding collection covers pre-Nuragic items, Nuragic finds €"including numerous bronze statuettes €" the Phoenician Nora stone, a reconstructed Phoenician settlement, Roman and Italic ceramic wares, Byzantine jewels and much more. The historian and the newcomer to Italian history will equally find a great deal to admire.
Feast of Sant'Efis
The Feast of Sant'Efis (Saint Ephysius) on May 1st every year is the city's largest religious procession. Thousands of people from across the island join a procession of the saint to Nora, 35 km away from Cagliari, where the saint was martyred. Tradition holds that during a devastating plague that began in 1652, the saint appeared to the Viceroy and requested the procession in order to lift the illness. The plague ended and the city upheld the saint's request. For visitors, it is a fascinating and lively experience, with many of the locals donning their finest traditional clothing.
Old Town
The old town of Cagliari is on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Cagliari, one of the seven hills that the city was built on. Most of the old town's white limestone walls are still standing, with two 14th century AD towers: the Torre dell'Elefante and the Torre di San Pancrazio. The view of the white walls gleaming in the sun with the sea in the background has inspired past writers to poetic comparisons. The old town is an excellent place to begin holidays in Sardinia's capital city.
Basilica of San Saturnino
The Basilica of San Saturnino is a piece of the island's early Christian history. Built in the 5th century AD and first mentioned in the early 6th century, it is likely to have been erected near the site of Saint Saturninus of Cagliari's burial. It is recorded in the medieval Passio sancti Saturni that he was martyred in the early 4th century, and he has since become the city's patron saint. Parts of the original building remain amid additions and repairs done over the centuries, making the Basilica of San Saturnino a very interesting historical sight on holidays in Sardinia for those with an interest in the early centuries of Christianity.
National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari is the premier museum for artefacts found around the island's many ancient sites. Whether or not visitors' holidays in Sardinia take them to the nuraghi, domus de janas, Roman ruins and Byzantine churches around the island, the museum is well worth a visit. Its outstanding collection covers pre-Nuragic items, Nuragic finds €"including numerous bronze statuettes €" the Phoenician Nora stone, a reconstructed Phoenician settlement, Roman and Italic ceramic wares, Byzantine jewels and much more. The historian and the newcomer to Italian history will equally find a great deal to admire.
Feast of Sant'Efis
The Feast of Sant'Efis (Saint Ephysius) on May 1st every year is the city's largest religious procession. Thousands of people from across the island join a procession of the saint to Nora, 35 km away from Cagliari, where the saint was martyred. Tradition holds that during a devastating plague that began in 1652, the saint appeared to the Viceroy and requested the procession in order to lift the illness. The plague ended and the city upheld the saint's request. For visitors, it is a fascinating and lively experience, with many of the locals donning their finest traditional clothing.
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