Cagliari - Sardinia

Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, was once a Carthaginian port town. It went through several more rulers over the centuries, as it was conquered by the Pisans and the Spaniards. It was bombed heavily during World War II, then rebuilt. Today the city is divided into a medieval half and a modern half, but both have narrow streets and many churches and palaces well worth the trip.

History
The Catalan Aragonese stole the town from the dominion of Genoa. It was colonized by the Catalani family in the 14th century and they called it "Barceloneta," little Barcelona, giving it mighty fortifications that still characterize its landscape. Even today the locals speak a dialect strongly linked to the Catalan language.

Sights
The most popular destination is undoubtedly the beach, Poetto. Aside from Poetto, the white-sand beaches, Villasimus and Chia, are even more beautiful. In fact, there are actual flamingos at Stagno di Molentargius, a marshy pond. Alternatively, try Cala Mosca for a smaller beach.

For museums, you can't go wrong with the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, which features paintings and some fantastic bronze figurines. A large collection of glass works rounds out the collection. In the same building, the Pinacoteca Nazionale displays Baroque and medieval religious paintings. You can also visit the Pisan tower of San Pancrazio, which is free.

The town's medieval quarter has a duomo, built in 13th century, with Romanesque pulpits dating back to the 12th century. The duomo has gold mosaics, four wrestling lions by Pisano, and wooden balcony where Piedmont's king would sit. The Bastione di San Remy also has good views, and is still partially intact from its earlier days as a protective wall around the city. Since being renovated in the 19th century, it features a fantastic view of the entire city. Also check out the Sella del Diavolo (Devil's Saddle), a giant, unusual rock formation.

The Anfiteatro Romano, or Roman amphitheater, was carved into a quarry. Amazingly, it was built in the second century, and the underground cages attest to its gladiatorial history.

The town has a good arts festival July to September. However, Caligari's most well-known celebration is the Festival of Sant'Efisio, held to honor a member of Diocletian's army who was beheaded.

If you get a chance, try to view the Botanical Gardens at the university. Another group of gardens, called Orto Botanico, are cheap and beautiful to stroll through.

Transportation
It is possible to arrive here via pretty much any mode of transportation, whether train, bus, or boat. There are many ferries from Trapani, Naples, Palermo, Genoa, and a few other towns in the region.