Why Cagliari?
The city: Cagliari is a port city of about 450,000 people and the capital of Sardinia with a long and rich history. The historic medieval walled quarter situated high over the rest of the town is spectacular. There are many museums and art galleries to explore. The people of Cagliari are warm, friendly and welcoming.
The region: Sardinia is a very mountainous island with a long coastline and many beautiful beaches. It lies between Sicily and Corsica. The historic towns of Alghero, Sassari and Nuoro are all within easy reach of Cagliari. The mountains and national parks are a magnet for people who love nature and the outdoors. It has been settled since Neolithic times with Cagliari dating back to the 7th century BC.
The courses: One World Italiano is an excellent school with highly skilled and very patient teachers. The maximum class size is 10 and the cost of the courses is very reasonable.
The atmosphere: Cagliari is a lively and vibrant city with a CBD of about 155,000 people with many bars, restaurants, music venues and lots of great shopping. It is compact, easy to navigate and safe. The port area in particular is alive with activity.
The food: Sardinia is renowned in Italy for its food and wine. It is famed for its Pecorino cheese and meat dishes from the mountains. The seafood on the coast is to die for. Every town and sub region has their specialties and it’s all delicious.
The climate: Sardinia is located between Sicily and Corsica in the and has the classic Mediterranean climate with warm to hot dry summers and cool to cold winters. Most years it is warm enough to swim in the sea well into October.
The cost: The south of Italy is still much cheaper than the rest of the country and Sardinia is no exception. The cost of living in Cagliari is much lower than in the northern cities of Italy where you can find Italian language schools. Food and accommodation are reasonably priced.
Explore: Cagliari can be reached by air or by ferry. Cagliari airport operates as a busy regional hub with flights to Italy and many other European destinations. Discount airfares are big and there are many bargains to be had.
Sights of Cagliari
- Roman Amphitheatre: The Roman Amphitheatre of Cagliari is an ancient Roman amphitheatre, located in the city of Cagliari, southern Sardinia, Italy. The structure, built in the 2nd century AD, was half carved in the rock, while the rest was built in local white limestone, with a façade surpassing 20 m in height.
- Galleria Comunale d’Arte in Cagliari: Housed in a neoclassical villa in the Giardini Pubblici (Public Gardens) north of the Castello, this terrific gallery focuses on modern and contemporary art. Works by many of Sardinia’s top artists are on show, alongside paintings and sculptures from many other 20th-century Italian artists of note.
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale: Sardinia’s premier archaeological museum showcases artefacts spanning thousands of years of history, from the early Neolithic, through the Bronze and Iron Ages to the Phoenician and Roman eras, reflecting Sardinia’s rich and ancient settled history.
- Poetto Beach: Cagliari’s fabulous Poetto Beach extends for 8km and is an easy bus ride from the centre of the city. In summer it’s crowded with beachgoers sunbaking, swimming, socialising, eating and drinking in the restaurants, bars and beach clubs that line the sand.
Cagliari Places of Worship
- La Cattedrale di Santa Maria: Cagliari’s graceful 13th-century cathedral stands proudly on Piazza Palazzo. The cathedral had a baroque make over in the 17th century.
- La Chiesa di San Michele: Consecrated in 1538, this Jesuit church is best known for its lavish 18th-century decor, considered the finest example of baroque styling in Sardinia.
- La Chiesa di Sant’Efisio: Despite its unassuming facade, la Chiesa di Sant’Efisio is of considerable local importance for its ties to St Ephisius, Cagliari’s patron saint.
- Santuario e Basilica di Nostra Signora di Bonaria: Devotees come from all over the world visit this understated 14th-century Gothic church sanctuary and pray to Nostra Signora di Bonaria, a statue of the Virgin Mary and Christ that supposedly saved a ship’s crew during a storm.
Monuments & Areas
- Torre dell’Elefante: One of only two Pisan towers still standing, the Torre dell’Elefante was built in 1307 as a defence against the threatening Aragonese.
- Il Castello Area in Cagliari: This hilltop citadel is Cagliari’s most iconic image. Its domes, towers and palazzi, once home to the city’s aristocracy, rise above the sturdy ramparts built by the Pisans and Aragonese. Inside the battlements, the old medieval city reveals itself with surprise after surprise.
- San Benedetto Market: At 8,000 square metres over two floors this is one of the largest city markets in Europe. The ground floor is dedicated to fish, while on the upper floor there are fruit and vegetables stalls, meat, cheese and many other typical products.