Capital Cagliari
Located on the southern coast if the island, Cagliari has always been a leading trading seaport between Eastern Mediterranean Europe and France and Spain. The oldest part of this bustling city is the Castello, sitting like a hat on top of the hill in the centre of town. You park the car outside the city walls and enter the city via the Porta Christina. Immediately to your left you
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| Entry gate to museum area |
find the former Arsenal,
now housing the city’s most important museums; those of Archaeology, Oriental
Art and the Municipal Art Gallery.The grid-like layout of the city makes
it easy to find your way around. Walking east along the Via Martini and you are soon standing
outside the Town Hall. Inside is the helpful tourist office and on the first
floor are
the Sala Della Rappresentanza and Sala del Consiglio Comunale, whose walls are decorated with numerous paintings of
important events in Sardinian history. What struck me was the openness of the
place, with no security checks or guards anywhere. Beautiful furniture and some antiques are on display. All 'wallpapers' were of jewel coloured silk and fabulous.
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| Sala del Consiglio Communale |
The same road leads you down to the impressive Roma-nesque façade of the Cathedral on Piazza Palazzo, built by
the Pisans in the 12th century. Dedicated to Santa Maria, this place of worship is much decorated in
different types of marble in a Baroque style. As it was Sunday the cathedral
was packed full, with many locals and visitors choosing to sit on the wide steps
outside, from where you could hear the ceremony and music in glorious sunshine.
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| Venue for monthly antique market |
As you know, antiques are my biggest passion, and I was keen
to explore the dedicated antique market on Piazza Carlo Alberto, which every website had assured me takes
place every second Sunday of the month. I.e. the day I was there. Nobody though, had added the words ‘except for
August' hm...but here is a picture of the square anyway. Some antique shops can be
found in Via Marmora, but they were firmly closed. Oh well, time for lunch
instead. We found this lovely trattoria in one of the many narrow alleyways in
the Castello where lovely seafood was served with a delicious local wine.
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| Cathedral of Santa Maria |
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| Castello side street |
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| Trattoria in lovely alleyway |
On the way back to the car, we noticed the remains of a
Roman Amphitheater under which there is an underground world of burial chambers
and Grottoes, stretching over a large area down toward the more modern district. There
is also a Botanical Garden,
but I left them for next time…
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| follow this cliffhanger story tomorrow - in Alghero |
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