Welcome to Cagliari, Sun, sea, a wholesome and tasty cooking are certainly some good reason for visiting Cagliari and for spending there at least more than one day. If you are interested in the town and in its monuments, you can first visit the ancient stronghold of Castello, fortified by the Pisan in 1258 and later furnished with the towers of St Pancras, and of the Elephant. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8^th century B.C. Cagliari was a landing  place along the Mediterranean routes. For centuries it was dominated by different conquerors, among them Carthaginians, Romans, Vandalis, Byzantines,  Pisans , Spaniards. In the National archaeological Museum a rich collection of archaeological material from Sardinia is arranged to illustrate the history and pre-history of the town.

The old town is crowling with little shops, artisans in woodwork, ceramists, restores and painters work in the streets, almost in touch with people. There are also a lot of night-clubs, eating-houses, exotic restaurants ( arabian, Chinese, Indian restaurants) with their special cooking. If you love nature, the lagoon of Santa Gilla, on the west side of Cagliari, boasts a very rich bird population ( altogether about 150 species ), including migranting and nesting birds, in addition to the pink flamingos,  there are red herons, purple gallinules, wild ducks. The lagoon of Molentargius, situated on the east side of the town, is one of the most important natural areas in Europe. In 1993 nearly 10.000 pink flamingos chose to nest in this wetland. Cagliari also has one of the most beautiful and suggestive beaches in the Mediterranean. At a few minutes far from the town, connected to the city centre by free buses, this long stretch of fine white sand extends from the Molentargius lagoon to the shallow seabed.  The Poetto beach has a lot of facilities, such as little bars which organize games and dancing evening, restaurants and pizza-restaurants. There is also another reason for choosing Cagliari, from the town, by car or by free buses, you can easily reach some of the most beautiful seaside places in the southwest coast of Sardinia. Pula and is important Punic-Roman city of Nora can be reached in about 30 minutes by going along the 195 Sulcitana Road. To Pula belongs the long beach of Santa Margherita, bordered by a thick pine glade. To Domus de Maria, 47 km from Cagliari, belong the sandy beaches of Chia. The South east coast, on the other hand, is connected to Cagliari by the Strada Provinciale Villasimius . To the town of Villasimius, 50 km from Cagliari, belong the beaches of Porto sa Ruxi, Campus, Spiaggia del Riso, Porto Giunco. There aree only some reasons for visiting Cagliari and for staying there. You are invited to discover the other thousands. Go along its streets , come into contact with its inhabitants, with its traditions, its cooking and its ideas. Have a nice stay.