The 3 Best Excursions To Do in Cagliari

 

Cagliari is a cheerful city, full of life. Being the capital of Sardinia, it is also a point of reference for the Sardinians themselves, who are almost unanimous in always telling it as a beautiful city.

 

As Cagliari is located in the south of Sardinia, it enjoys even more pleasant temperatures than the typical Sardinian ones, and often there are 4 or 5 degrees of difference between the localities in the north of Sardinia and Cagliari – making this factor also make this city a pleasantly coveted destination for a trip out of season.

 

You can choose which Cagliari  to know, since there are interesting aspects in virtually all fields, such as sea, archaeology, culture, nature and food and wine. We have struggled to find the 3 best excursions because there would be more interesting places to know.

 

 

 

 

1st excursion: Devil’s Saddle

The Devil’s Saddle offers a perfect combination: getting out of the city while still there. This promontory on the sea, which divides the beaches of Poetto and Cala Mosca, can be walked through the paths and is a perfect choice for a day out, perhaps taking a packed lunch.

 

Considered a jewel of archaeology and nature, this town in the city of Cagliari (there’s no need to go on the road) has become a destination for tourists and Cagliari because it offers the possibility of a walk in the middle of nature, surrounded by a breathtaking view.

 

La Sella del Diavolo is a place that has already hosted Roman soldiers, Spaniards, Piedmontese and Benedictine monks. The legend around its name is very interesting. They say that Lucifer captained the demons who were impressed by the beauty of the Gulf of Cagliari and that, for this reason, they tried to take possession of it. God, to contrast them, sent the archangel Michael with whom they fought over the skies above the gulf.

 

Lucifer fell from his horse and lost his saddle that rested on the waters of the Gulf and, petrifying, gave rise to the promontory. Still following this legend, the name of the Gulf of Angels was given to the stretch of sea in front of the Devil’s Saddle.

 

Two environmental associations have been involved in tracing the path that crosses the entire promontory to the tower of S.Elia. These same associations organize guided tours for people who wish to do so..

 

 

 

2nd excursion: Medieval Cagliari

The district of Castello is one of the most characteristic of Cagliari and among the four considered historic. It is also particular for its location, 100 m above sea level, with a splendid view of the sea in part of the city.

 

This district was founded by the Pisans in the thirteenth century. They fortified it and provided it with walls, towers and ramparts, transferring there the seat of civil, military and religious powers. Since then, under every domination that has passed there and until the second after the war the Castle has housed the palaces of power and noble residences. This has contributed to associate the city to this district and still many call Cagliari with the Sardinian word for castle, that is, “Casteddu” (=castle).

 

The access to Castello is through the medieval gates opened in the walls that still surround most of the perimeter of the castle, separating it from the city.

 

There are important institutions such as the prefecture, the council chamber of the Province of Cagliari and there is also the Cathedral Church, the main one of the Archdiocese of Cagliari, as well as the offices of the Rectorate of the University of Cagliari.

 

D.H.Lawrence, almost a century ago, described Cagliari as a city of stone, bare and uphill, like a white Jerusalem. This description seems to cite the district of Castello, with its high, white and imposing walls.

 

The narrow streets of the district are reminiscent of certain Spanish villages and entering the district Castello you almost forget the other side of the city. Here there are fewer cars (ztl) and you can not remain indifferent while you cross doors like the one under the Elephant Tower, and not even when you look at the city from the top of the bastion Saint Remy.

 

During the excursion, you will come across historical places, important ancestral houses, small shops, shops and modern restaurants that have been able to fit into such a particular context.

 

The excursion to the castle is worth to immerse oneself in the history, and to intersperse this experience with slices of a modern present, as when one can stop in one of the small bars with sea view to drink an aperitif.

 

 

 

3rd excursion: Park of Molentargius and the Salt Pans

The Molentargius Park is located between Cagliari and Quartu S.Elena, occupying an area of about 1600 hectares. The history of the park is closely linked to the salt pans, which were active until 1985. The park was established because it is considered a wetland of international value in Europe. It is a rare example of a world ecosystem in an area that has become a natural habitat for various animal species despite being located in a highly man-made area.

 

The name of the park, Is Molentargius, refers to the Sardinian word meaning donkey conductors, who were the ones who loaded the salt collected in the basins.

 

The excursion to the Park includes the routes of the Salt Road, full of points of interest atoric, architectural and environmental. Access to the park is free and free every day, from dawn to dusk. You can proceed with a simple walk, but you can also choose to go there by bike or you can also go jogging in this pristine natural setting. An alternative is to visit it using electric minibuses or boats. All this can be booked through the infopoint of the park.

 

In the ponds of Molentargius live different species of wild birds, being the Pink Flamingo the most popular representative. Walking in the park you can see hundreds of them, but the flamingo is just one of many species that live there and now regularly nest, making the park a real oasis of nature.

 

 

 

Giulio Sacripanti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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