Cagliari

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia on the southeastern coast of the island and spreads across several limestone hills that descend toward the Mediterranean. The fortified Castello district sits atop the highest hill and offers wide views over the city and the surrounding sea.

The first settlements appeared here during the Neolithic period, and later the Carthaginians developed the site into one of their main fortresses in the western Mediterranean. During the Second Punic War the Romans captured the city and turned it into a central administrative seat for the entire island.

The patron saint Efisio is honored each May with a multi-day procession in which men and women wear elaborately embroidered costumes from all parts of the island. The celebrations combine religious devotion with folk traditions and draw both locals and visitors into streets filled with music and song.

The historic center can be explored on foot, though the steep lanes in the Castello district require comfortable shoes. Visitors arriving mainly in summer should walk through the higher neighborhoods early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid midday heat.

The Tuvixeddu Necropolis holds thousands of Punic and Roman tombs carved into the limestone hill and forms the largest burial site of its kind in the entire Mediterranean. Many tomb chambers still preserve their original entrances and inscriptions, offering a direct glimpse into ancient burial practices.

Location: Metropolitan City of Cagliari

Elevation above the sea: 4 m

Shares border with: Capoterra, Elmas, Quartu Sant'Elena, Quartucciu, Sestu, Assemini, Monserrato, Selargius

Address: Cagliari, Metropolitan City of Cagliari, Italy

Website: https://comune.cagliari.it

GPS coordinates: 39.21667,9.11667

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:27