Cagliari, overlooking its famous beach of Poetto is the largest and most important city of Sardinia, one of the most popular Italian tourist destinations. In the four districts of the city you can admire the charm of the ancient history of these places.
Its geographical position on the sea has allowed the city to come into contact with different peoples and cultures. The monuments and buildings of the city are a testament to the importance of this city.
Cagliari, where is it
Cagliari is the largest and most populous city of Sardinia and is located in the south east of the island and overlooks the sea in front of the gulf. The city has always been a point of passage for those who explore the beauty of the island.
In fact, it is one of the main access points that has become increasingly important over the years. In addition to its history and its culture, the city of Cagliari also offers many natural wonders to discover such as the lagoon areas populated by numerous species of birds.
The history of Cagliari
The city of Cagliari has a long history dating back to the Neolithic period. Later the territory was colonized by the Phoenicians and the Punics in 238 a. C. and then conquered in 46 a. C. by the Romans who made it become a town hall. In the following period it was the Byzantines who ruled the city and intensified trade relations with Africa.
In the fifth century Cagliari fell under the occupation of the Vandals of Africa who remained for about 80 years. The advent of the Aragonese was an important moment in the history of the Sardinian city as these left important architectural works such as the castle. Then for a long time it was the Spanish who controlled the Sardinian capital until 1720 when it passed to the Savoy Kingdom and then annexed to the Kingdom of Italy.
Cagliari what to see
Cagliari offers many things to see for tourists who come here every year from all over the world to discover this wonderful island. One of the most popular attractions is the Bastion of Saint Remy. It is a staircase surmounted by a triumphal arch and is a monument of great historical importance.
From this you can also enjoy the best panorama of the city. In the area of the old town there are two towers built in 1300. They are the tower of the Elephant and that of San Pancrazio and represent the testimony of the military past of the city. Another must-see building in Cagliari is the Cathedral of Santa Maria, built in the 13th century in Gothic style. The interior has many frescoes and sculptures in Baroque style. Another religious building to visit in Cagliari is the Sanctuary of Bonaria located on the homonymous hill.
It was built by Alfonso of Aragon following the victory over the Pisans. On March 25, 1370, a mysterious casket thrown into the sea by a Spanish sailing ship reached the beach of Bonaria. The friars were the only ones who managed to lift it and carried it to the church. Here they discovered that the chest contained a Madonna and Child holding a candle still in her hand.
This attracted a large number of pilgrims and for this reason the friars decided to build a larger church. The works began in 1704 and lasted for many years. In 1908 Pope Pius X proclaimed the Madonna di Bonaria Patrona of Sardinia.
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What to eat in Cagliari?
The traditional cuisine of Cagliari is one of the most appreciated in Italy and is characterized by the preparation of fish in different ways that follow the most ancient customs. In addition, all the resources offered by this wonderful land are used for the preparation of dishes. One of the oldest traditional dishes is fregola.
It is a hard semolina paste in the shape of small balls. Another specialty of Sardinian cuisine is scabecciu fish or fried fish served with a sauce of onion, tomato and vinegar. Panada is also very popular among traditional dishes. It is a savory cake with meat and other condiments inside. As for the most famous first courses there are malloredus which are dumplings with the shape of a striped shell.
But the protagonist of the recipes of the main dishes is undoubtedly the porceddu. It is a pig not exceeding 7 kilos that is cooked on a spit. Finally, as for desserts, the Sardinian dessert par excellence is the seadas. It is a round bag similar to ravioli that is prepared using a mixture of semolina stuffed with cheese. This is fried and then wrapped in honey once served.
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