SARDINIA

There are several reasons why many tourists visit the island of Sardinia and spend their holidays there. The first and irresistible attraction are the beautiful Sardinian coasts overlooking a crystal-clear water and free from any form of marine pollution and the extraordinary seascapes full of charm and wild beauty. Large white beaches alternating with small coves with emerald-green water, surrounded, sometimes, by beautiful granite cliffs; majestic crag outstretched on sea on walls of whom deep and charming caves open.

Fascinating are the wild interior areas also storing, in many cases, characteristics of a primordial nature, with rare specimens of flora and fauna often extinct in whole of Europe.

In addition, an extraordinary artistic and archaeological heritage witness of events of this ancient land that still shows a rigid adherence to the purest tradition of craftwork in many forms and suggestive ways.

The renowned quality of its products, the genuine cuisine, the legendary hospitality of its people and its extremely temperate climate that gives a long hot season are as many 'good reasons' contributing to the success of the tourism on the island.

CAGLIARI

Cagliari, Mediterranean and sunny city, is the regional capital of Sardinia.

It is located in the south of the island in a favourable geographical position in the centre of the Gulf of the Angels. City with thousand-year history rises in the area that was inhabited by the Sardinian-nuraghic people since the Bronze age.

Around 1000 B.C. the Phoenicians started visiting that natural harbor protected from wind to whom they gave name 'Carales'. After Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals and Byzantines followed, under which Sardinia was divided into districts.

Since 900 A.D., after attacks of the Arabs, the four districts of Sardinia became independent in transforming into countries, called 'Giudicati', and Cagliari became the eponymous capital of 'Giudicato'.

Subsequently, the Pisans settled on the hill called 'Castle', transforming it in a fortified city. After Pisans, Aragoneses, Castilians, and finally, in 1718, the last rulers, Piedmonteses (their King Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy had the title of King of Sardinia) followed.

All these people who came from overseas have left a significant imprint: the Phoenician necropolis, the Roman amphitheatre, the Byzantine basilica of 'San Saturnino' and the Cathedral in Romanesque-Byzantine style, the Pisan towers of 'San Pancrazio' and of the Elephant. From the Savoy period are the Viceroyal Palace and the Bastion of Saint Remy.

Town of art and culture, Cagliari has a very interesting National Archaeological Museum very engrossing for its collection of pieces from the prehistoric civilization of Sardinia, the nuraghic 'bronzetti', from the Punic, Punic-Roman and Christian age.

But Cagliari is not only past. Today is a very active centre of commerce with its port station and the airport of Elmas. It is full of theatres, art galleries, cultural and sports events, parks, but, above all, it is a town where you can enjoy the sea for a large part of the year, along the endless sandy stretch of the 'Poetto' beach.