I quattro quartieri storici di Cagliari: un abbraccio tra passato e presente

Cagliari, the "city of the sun", experiences an eternal dance between history and everyday life in its neighbourhoods. Four stories set between the 12th and 15th centuries, each with its own soul, shaped by centuries of events, culture and traditions. One higher up, dominating the city; three others, more intimate, pulsating with life and memories. This is the beating heart of Cagliari.

1. Castle – The 'heart of the hanging streets'.

The highest and oldest district, Castello is a bastion of memory. Here, ancient medieval walls blend with modern fortifications: the tower of San Pancrazio, the Elephant Tower and the Spanish ramparts outline the silhouette of a past that defies time. The panoramic viewpoints and cobbled streets tell the story: noble palaces, the Royal Palace, the ancient City Hall, and above all the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria, a treasure trove of faith and art.

2. Marina – Among waves of stone and the scent of the sea.

At the foot of the Castle lies Marina, a cosmopolitan and lively neighbourhood suspended between the port and the city. Here, elegant Art Nouveau arcades welcome passers-by with architecture that speaks of distant worlds. Via Roma and Largo Carlo Felice, lively streets suspended between neoclassical, neo-Gothic, Art Nouveau and rationalist styles, speak of a city open to the world.

Marina is alive: artisans, historic shops, authentic food shops and ethnic restaurants create a sensory symphony that combines the refinement of the past with the energy of contemporary commerce.

3. Stampace – A microcosm of traditions and popular theatre.

Stampace is a city within a city: a lively, authentic neighbourhood, rich in customs and collective passion that transforms it into a stage for faith and folklore. It is here that the heart of Holy Week and the Feast of Sant'Efisio beats, events that attract hundreds of worshippers and tourists every year, united in ritual and history.

Walking through Stampace means encountering layers of history: from ancient Roman Carales (remains of the amphitheatre, the Villa di Tigellio), to the Pisan tower of Sperone, from the underground crypts where the city took refuge during the bombings, to the Baroque churches of Sant'Anna, Sant'Efisio and San Michele Arcangelo.

Stampace enchants with its flower-filled balconies, decorated façades and faces emerging from neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings: a tale intertwining aesthetics, history and popular spirituality.

4. Villanova – The simple elegance of a village within the city.

Villanova, probably founded at the end of the 13th century, is the "youngest" of the historic districts. Yet it is a village within a village: low-rise colourful houses, small squares, small houses called "bascius" with internal courtyards, bordered by quiet alleys and stories of life.

Here you can breathe in the rhythm of daily life, the ancient bakeries ('is panetteras'), symbols of a precious domestic art. Villanova and Stampace also tell their story through playful, almost legendary epithets: "cuccurus cottus" and "inforra Cristu" – signs of an ancient but affectionate rivalry between communities that challenge each other with irony and pride.

A tour of Villanova starts from Piazza Costituzione and winds its way through the Bastione di Saint Remy, Palazzo Valdes, the churches of San Giacomo and the Oratorio delle Anime del Purgatorio, ending with poetic views in Via San Saturnino, where street art tells the story of time passing quickly. The cloister of San Domenico, with its Gothic-Catalan vaults and Renaissance arches, is a stop of historical and spiritual intensity.

✅ Cagliari as an integral experience.

Visiting these neighbourhoods is not just a stroll among stones and alleys: it is a journey through over seven hundred years of history, from Pisan domination to the arrival of the Piedmontese, touching on art, faith, daily life and collective memory. Each neighbourhood whispers a different story: of battles, of faith, of glances alone, of crowded churchyards, of silent shops and hidden corners.

Castello makes you feel the grandeur of a past defined by walls and power; Marina envelops you in an urban melody open to the world; Stampace tells you about sacred traditions and vibrant communities; Villanova cradles you with intimacy, simplicity and elegance.

In this daily intertwining, Cagliari truly reveals itself to be the 'city of the sun': warm, welcoming, bright, suspended between time and eternity.

Want to visit Cagliari and its surroundings? Take part in Roberta Carboni's guided tours!

Roberta Carboni has been a tourist guide and art historian for more than 10 years. She lives in Cagliari and is passionate about Sardinia, which she has loved so much, all her life, which is why she has chosen to tell its story through exclusive thematic tours. In this way, she contributes to making the island known not only to those who do not yet know it, but also to the Sardinians themselves. The tours take place both within Cagliari, i.e. in the historic centre and other parts of the city, and in the surroundings of the city, going also to the south and centre of Sardinia.

✅ Get to know Roberta Carboni better - Travel guide in Cagliari and join her thematic tours...