Poetto Beach and the coast

The Poetto is Cagliari's main beach: 10 kilometers of white and hot sandy beach with striking crystal clear water and uncontaminated nature. For the most adventurous ones thee is access to all water sports. Exotic heaven during daytime and the place to be at night time with plenty of bars, kiosks and open discos right on the beach. South Sardinia's beaches are among the world's most beautiful ones. Some of the most striking beaches are: Piscinas Dunes, fifty metres high and constantly reshaped by the prevailing winds; the yellow expanse dotted here and there with patches of juniper, samphire and canes growing along the dry bed of the Piscinas stream. In the distance, the mountains fade into the sky. Here, in this stretch of desert along the seashore, it is as though you are walking through the burning sands of the Sahara.

The City

Cagliari, with its harbour, its great old houses, its wide roads, its old quarters, its castle and its history. Cagliari is a city of theatres, great sports events, places for meeting up, fine cafes, but above all a city where you can enjoy the sea for a large part of the year along the Poetto beach or among the secret rocks over which hangs the calcareous crag of the Devil's Saddle.

Shopping & Restaurants

Cagliari's shopping and eating paradise: Food and wine are among Sardinia's main attractions. If you wish to enjoy typical Sardinian food and the exceptional local wine you should go to the Marina area where you can find countless restaurants and trattoria. Cagliari's most important and busiest shopping areas are: Via Roma, Via Manno, Largo Carlo felice, Via Garibadi, Via Dante, Via Paoli, Via Alghero, Via Sonnino.

Culture

The "Castello" which was reinforced by bastions from the time of the Aragonese are very fine. The large terrace allows a sweeping view all around the city. A city of art and culture, Cagliari boasts an archeological museum situated in the area of the Spanish citadel and the Arsenale, which houses small bronzes from the Nuraghe, Phoenician and Punic burial objects, findings from Tharros, and the famous stela of Nora carrying a famous inscription, perhaps the first instance of the name of Sardinia in writing. Other notable monuments are the Baroque churches from the Spanish period - San Michele, Santa Croce, San Giovanni and San Giacomo.

Sant'Efisio

Sant'Efisio is Cagliari's most famous celebration and is held on the 1st of May. The chant of the faithful, intoning a monody has, like their ritual gestures, something ancient and absorbing about it and the atmosphere is charges with emotion. On the carts drawn by oxen, with flowers adorning their horns, sit the women, children and old people while the men precede or follow the carts by foot. Beautiful traditional costumes, jewellery, lace, horses, candles everywere, the band, players of the Launeddas, the traditional wind instrument, joyful singing, roads are paved with flowers everywhere and the golden coach with the statue of the Saint driven by two splendid oxen of the Sardinian Modicano breed.

• Cagliari Airport