Cripta di Sant'Agostino, Underground chapel in Stampace district, Cagliari, Italy

Cripta di Sant'Agostino is an underground chapel in the Stampace district accessible through a spiral staircase in Palazzo Accardo's entrance hall. Inside, a classical marble altar from the 1600s holds a niche with a statue of Saint Augustine, surrounded by decorative tiles and religious ornaments.

The grotto, likely used since Roman times, held Saint Augustine's remains from 504 to 722, brought by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, exiled to Sardinia with other North African bishops by the Vandal king Thrasamund. In 722 the Lombard king Liutprand moved the relics to Pavia to protect them from Saracen raids. A Gothic church dedicated to the saint was built above in the 15th century.

The crypt walls display tiles from the 1600s with Spanish patterns, mixing Iberian craftsmanship with Italian religious design. This decoration reflects the island's Mediterranean connections across centuries.

To visit, enter Palazzo Accardo on Largo Carlo Felice and look for the spiral staircase in the entrance area. The descent requires some physical effort, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip.

Behind the altar lies a hidden cavity that once held sacred relics and a spring, which locals believed had healing powers. This concealed chamber reveals how worshippers linked physical spaces with spiritual meaning.