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Sardinia is increasingly focusing on promoting its historical and cultural heritage. On 9 June 2026, an agreement was signed officially launching the ‘Itinerary of the Seven Royal Cities of Sardinia’, a project designed to enhance the island’s cultural offering and attract visitors throughout the year.
The agreement was signed by the Regional Department of Tourism together with the municipalities of Alghero, Bosa, Cagliari, Castelsardo, Iglesias, Oristano and Sassari – the seven towns that were awarded the prestigious title of ‘Città Regia’ during the Catalan-Aragonese period.
What does it mean to be a Royal City?
Between the 14th and 18th centuries, much of Sardinia was organised according to the feudal system. The Royal Cities, however, were a notable exception.
These towns enjoyed special privileges granted directly by the Crown and were able to govern themselves with greater autonomy than the feudal territories. They were also home to important religious and civil institutions and served as the island’s main cultural centres.
It is precisely for this reason that the Royal Cities have preserved a significant part of the artistic, architectural, archival and library heritage produced during the centuries of Spanish rule.
What are the Seven Royal Cities of Sardinia?
The itinerary connects seven destinations that bring to life some of the most fascinating chapters in Sardinian history:
Each one is home to monuments, fortifications, churches, historic buildings and traditions that bear witness to the role it played in centuries past.
A €30 million investment
The initiative will be funded by approximately €30 million from the Development and Cohesion Fund (FSC).
The funds will be allocated to the restoration and conservation of historic monuments in town centres, as well as to the creation of a shared identity through a common brand, coordinated signage and specific tourism promotion activities.
The aim is to create a distinctive and competitive tourism product that brings medieval and modern Sardinia to life through a single, comprehensive cultural itinerary.
A new addition to Sardinia’s cultural offering
In recent years, Sardinia has invested heavily in promoting its archaeological and historical heritage.
The Route of the Seven Royal Cities forms part of a wider strategy that encompasses the Nuragic sites, the Domus de Janas (recognised by UNESCO), the major archaeological complexes of Nora, Tharros and Porto Torres, and the island’s museum heritage.
With this new project, Sardinia adds a significant new attraction dedicated to the medieval period and the long Catalan-Aragonese and Spanish era, offering visitors fresh reasons to explore the island beyond its stunning coastline.
An opportunity for the future of tourism
The creation of the Route of the Seven Royal Cities represents much more than a simple project to promote the area’s monuments.
It can become an effective tool for helping to spread tourist flows more evenly throughout the year, distributing visitors across the region and promoting historic centres that preserve centuries of history, art and identity.
For those who love to travel at a leisurely pace and discover the true spirit of Sardinia, this new itinerary could soon become one of the most fascinating cultural routes in the entire Mediterranean.
“The Seven Royal Cities Route is still in its infancy, but it offers a wonderful opportunity to rediscover a Sardinia rich in history, culture and identity. A heritage that is just waiting to be told and experienced.”
For further reading
For further details on the Memorandum of Understanding and the project’s objectives, please refer to the official statement published by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia.
AI Disclosure (AI Act 2025 – Italian Law 132/2025):
the text content is AI-assisted, created by Antonio Casu with the support of ChatGPT (GPT-5.2), OpenAI, in accordance with the transparency principles set out in Regulation (EU) 2024/1689.