Cagliari

The ferries to Cagliari, which connect the rest of Italy to the capital of Sardinia and vice versa, are operated by the shipping company Grimaldi Lines; the maritime lines depart from the ports of Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo.

The Civitavecchia - Cagliari line is active throughout the year with three evening departures per week on the outward journey and three on the return journey; the crossing, at night, ends the following morning.

The Naples - Cagliari line is also operational annually, with a three-weekly frequency, evening departures both outward and return with navigation at night and arrival the following morning.

The Palermo - Cagliari line, which is annual, has a weekly frequency, with departure in the morning, navigation during the day and arrival at the destination in the evening for the outward journey; on the way back we leave in the late afternoon, sail at night and arrive at dawn the following day.

You can travel, with or without a vehicle, subject to availability, in deck passage, seat or cabin; this last solution, thanks to the beds, is the one that obviously allows you to arrive more rested when the journey is at night.

The area of ​​the Cagliari port (classified II category - I class and managed by the Port System Authority of the Sea of ​​Sardinia) which can be accessed once disembarked is the central and oldest one, in Via Roma.

Below are the points of interest, the salient events and the historical-cultural characteristics of the area that you can visit once you reach the port city bathed by the Sardinia canal.

Inhabited since the Neolithic, Cagliari (Casteddu in Sardinian) is the guardian of a huge historical, artistic and naturalistic heritage. According to some, the name of the city derives from the proto-Sardinian term Karali, which means "rocky location". It was built on seven limestone hills.

Throughout its history - also due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean - it has always played a leading role. During the Roman period it was the capital of the Province of Sardinia et Corsica.

The sign left by Rome is still very evident: in the municipal area, in fact, there are an amphitheater of the imperial age (it could contain up to 10 thousand people ), the villa of Tigellio (in the Stampace district) and the so-called Grotta della Vipera  a tomb from the 2nd century destined to house the mortal remains of the matron Atilia Pomptilla. Near the cave there is also the Punic necropolis of Tuvixeddu, the largest still existing.

As mentioned, Cagliari is not only synonymous with art and history. The city is in fact rich in numerous green lungs: the Public gardens, the Parco delle Rimembranze, the Orto dei Cappuccini, the Garden under the walls, the Parco della Musica, the Monte Urpinu Park and so on.

Visitors are also interested in the Santa Gilla Lagoon and the Molentargius Pond: these two protected wetlands are annually chosen by colonies of flamingos to nest. As for the beaches, however, the most frequented by tourists are that of Poetto and Calamosca.

If you are passionate about local traditions, Cagliari is the city for you. During the year, in fact, a myriad of events take place in the area. Among these we must certainly include the characteristic Carnival, the feast of Sant'Elfisio on May 1st, the procession to the sea during the feast of Our Lady of Bonaria. Last but not least, the feast of San Saturnino: the patron saint of the city is honored by the people of Cagliari on October 30th.

In this brief vademecum a passage, albeit a quick one, on cooking cannot be missing. The famous malloreddus (Sardinian gnocchi), spaghittus cun arrizzonis (spaghetti "with sea urchins") and porceddu cannot be missing on the table of every self-respecting Cagliari. The Sardinian culinary tradition also boasts a large number of desserts: from sebadas to candelas, from pabassinas to pardulas and so on. Finally, the wines deserve a mention: it is possible to choose between Monica, Girò, and Moscato, Malvasia and many others.