Cagliari

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia.

Get in

By plane

Several airlines serve Cagliari Elmas Airport, [4] connecting it to many Italian and European cities. [5] The airport is only 7 km away from Cagliari city center.

Taxis can be obtained from the taxi ranks outside the terminal. Taxis offer a more flexible means of getting to the city center. Taxis are slightly more expensive but offer a 24-hour service. If you arrive in Cagliari later than 22:30pm, this might be your only option to reach the city. The taxis come with charging meters. The price of travelling to various locations is negotiable but generally goes up at night. Taxi service to Cagliari is provided by the following companies: Cooperativa Radio Taxi “Quattro Mori” (Scalette Santo Sepolcro 2, Cagliari, Tel: 070 400101) and Cooperativa Radio Taxi “Rossoblù” (Via Duomo 19, Cagliari, Tel: 070 6655). Taxi ride to the city center (Piazza Matteotti/Via Roma) costs around €20 (day), or €25 (night).

From June 9th 2013, the airport is easily accessible by train from Cagliari and all major Sardinian cities. The rail service starts at about 5am and ends after 9pm with an average frequency of 20 minutes. Timetable The journey to and from downtown takes 5-7 mins, single fare is €1.25. Tickets are sold by Trenitalia at the vending machine located inside the station, online and by official ticket counters and authorized dealers. The airport train station is just a 5 minutes’ walk from the air terminal.

Shuttle bus service to and from the city center (Piazza Matteotti) is provided by ARST (Azienda Regionale Trasporti; toll free number: 800 865042, info 070 4098327). The bus stop is located just outside the 'Arrivals' area. Single ride ticket costs €4 (from the automatic vending machine in the 'arrivals' area/newsstand) or €5 (from the driver on board). Buses run every half an hour from 5:20am till 22:30pm. Journey takes around 15 minutes.

By boat

The maritime connections to Cagliari are operated by Tirrenia. The port is very close to the city center. The routes covered are:

• Cagliari-Civitavecchia, daily.
• Cagliari-Napoli, weekly, on Tuesdays.
• Cagliari-Trapani, weekly, on Sundays.
• Cagliari-Palermo, weekly, on Fridays.

Get around

By public transportation

Cagliari Public Transportation CTM provides an fast and efficient service to get around in Cagliari city and suburbs.There are about 30 lines of buses and four new metro lines are in progress. At least the bus traffic is amazingly efficient and reliable to Italian standards. [6] Prices are reasonable with a wide variety of choices: €1.20 for a 90 minute single ride, €2.00 for a 120 minute single ride, €3 for a daily pass, €12 for a 12 ride pass, €12 for a weekly pass. Only single ride tickets can be purchased on board for €1.50 (exact change) and subject to availability. It is advised to buy tickets from automatic vending machines or tobacco-shops ("Tabacchi") or newsstands ("Edicola") before getting on the bus. Some cafe/bars also sell tickets ("biglietti"). Look for a "CTM" sign for an establishment that sells tickets. Remember to validate your ticket once on board.

There is a light rail service in Cagliari known by its commercial name "Metrocagliari".[7] Presently it serves in between the stops 'Repubblica' and 'Policlinico Universitaria'. Presently, the tram line does not serve the area of popular tourist attractions.[8] Take note that the 'CTM ticket' is not valid on the tram as it is operated by 'ARST Gestione FdS'.

By taxi

Taxis are available in very few specific taxi stands or by advanced booking over the telephone (Quattro Mori: 070 400101 and Rossoblù: 070 6655). As they main attractions are either very close to the city center or very well connected by public transport, taxis are not very essential.

By car

It is really difficult to get parking and drive in rush hour even if the road network has been recently improved.

On foot

The best thing you can do is walk through the old city and discover it. Almost everything you have to see in a quick visit of Cagliari can be joined by a pleasant little walk.

Wear comfortable shoes, though. The old town of Cagliari lies in a somewhat steep hill, so you will be walking uphill or downhill most of the time.

There are clean public toilets in the building on the Pontile Sanita ferry wharf, near the bus terminal.

By bike

The Cagliari bike station is in the centre of Cagliari, inside the parking area, at the train station. [9]. Please take note that Cagliari is a hilly city and biking in the historic center can be tiresome. Also, in most of the parts of Cagliari, there are no specific bike lanes.

See

History and architecture

Most of the the historic and architectural attractions in Cagliari are very close to the main city center (Via Roma/Piazza Yenne) can can be covered on foot.

• Santuario e Basilica di Bonaria is worth a visit. the complex consists of a sanctuary, a basilica and a cemetery. You can either walk from the port or take buses numbered 5, 31, 30, PF, PQ. Line 5 takes you in front of the church. The other lines takes you 200m away from the complex.

• Bastione di Saint Remy is very popular for the beautiful panoramic view of the city. Can be pretty noisy in the evening, thanks to a popular cafe located on the piazza at the top, but very quiet and tranquil in the morning. After you've enjoyed the view below, don't forget to go even higher and explore the streets and piazzas there.

• Chiesa di Santa Maria

• Torre di San Pancrazio and Torre dell'Elefante are both typical examples of Pisan military architecture. These towers provide a great view of the city, the port area, and the distant mountains.

• Chiesa di San Michele is located at the end of via Azuni, 5min walk from Piazza Yenne.

• Castello di San Michele was built in the XII century and located on one of the beautiful hills in Cagliari city. The San Michele castle offers a interesting story and a beautiful view to his visitors.

• Considerable remains of the ancient city are still visible at Cagliari, including those of the Roman Amphitheatre, traditionally called Is centu scalas ("One hundred steps"), carved into a block of rock (the typical limestone from which Cagliari is built), and of an aqueduct, used to provide a water in which it is generally scarce.

Museums

• Museo Archeologico Nazionale
• Cittadella dei Musei
• Capitol arte contemporanea

Parks

• Parco Naturale Molentargius-Saline
• Orto Botanico

Do

Beach

• Poetto: is a 8 km long beach that will excite you and is perfectly equipped to satisfy every your wish. You can get there by buses PF, PQ, 3P, PE and 9P.

The beach is divided to the free parts and the beach clubs, the latter charging you with an entry fee but rent umbrellas, deck chairs, etc. for you. Prices are around €3/entry, about €12 for an umbrella, a deck chair and a sun bed. The club beaches clean the sand each night and provide you with showers and toilets.

• Calamosca is a smaller but very beautiful beach which can be reached by the bus 5/11. Take note that during the peak season, the beach gets very crowded so plan to get there earlier.

Day trips

Sardinia is land of natural beauty with exciting places with historic interests. There are many beautiful places worthy of a day trip. In many cases, there are no efficient public transport system to reach these places and so, you have to rent a car. Also, there are many companies that conduct day trips at affordable prices.

• Isola di San Pietro or San Pietro Island is an island is of volcanic origin. With 51 square kilometres (19.7 sq mi) it is the sixth largest island of Italy by area. The island is connected by regular ferry service to Portovesme and Calasetta.

• Villasimius is a municipality in the Province of Cagliari, located about 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Cagliari. It is famous for its beautiful beaches. Most important beaches of the area are Porto Sa Ruxi, Piscadeddus, Campus, Cala caterina, Cala Burroni, Porto Giunco, Timi Ama, Simius, Punta Molentis, Spiaggia del Riso.

• Chia is popular for its beautiful beaches.

• Cala Domestica is another small but beautiful beach.

• Barumini is a municipality in the Province of Medio Campidano, located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Cagliari and about 15 kilometres (9 mi) northeast of Sanluri. It is home to Su Nuraxi di Barumini, a Nuraghe complex listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Nora is an ancient Roman and pre-Roman town placed on a peninsula near Pula, near to Cagliari. According to legend, Nora was founded by a group of Iberians from Tartessus led by Norax, a mythological hero son of Eriteide and the god Hermes. It is believed to be the first town founded in Sardinia and to have been settled by the ancient Sherden or the Nuraghi people, and later colonized by Phoenicians.

Buy

Most of the shops are concentrated in a couple of areas: Via Roma and Largo Carlo Felice, the pedestrial roads Via Manno and Via Garibaldi, and the part of town around Via Alghero, Via Paoli and Via Dante. Lots of beautiful shop are concentrated in this areas which could remind you of Copenhagen's Strøget.

Eat

There are many of restaurants in the old town area, and you probably will not make a bad selection anyway since the food seems to be top class at least if you enjoy seafood. A dinner for two with little house wine.

There are also a few places to enjoy lunch salads at the Piazza Yenne and wonderful Gelaterias if you don't want to eat too heavily during the day. These places double up as decent eateries by night.

• l'Oca Bianca, Via Napoli, 38 (Marina District), ☎ 070 664339. A good pizza place tucked away in the side streets. Make a reservation, though.  edit

• Glitter, Via dei Genovesi, 22 (Castello area). If you want to taste another kind of typical Italian food, try piadine at this place. This small café has a unique atmosphere that recalls medieval times with its stone walls and you can admire a Punic cistern under your feet while tasting delicious piadine.  edit

• Trattoria Sa Turra, Via Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 126, ☎ "070. A traditional low-key place to eat that's been serving traditional pasta and seafood dishes since the 1930s. Affordable and friendly.  edit

Drink

• Cafe Restaurant Van Gogh, coastal road Cagliari Villasimius km 19,4, ☎ 070 786082. Traditional Sardinian food that is freshly prepared and beautifully presented, afternoon light meals and salads, lunches and dinners, prix fix lunch menus, facilities for children, good parking. Close to beach  edit

Sleep

The whole area around Cagliari gives host to a number of accommodation options including the world famous Forte village [10], and the stunning hotel Le Meridien Chia Laguna on the white sandy beaches of Chia.

• Hotel Tanca Irde [11] Strada per Poggio dei Pini Capoterra, 09012 CA. Hotel Tanca Irde is located on a small hill between the mountains and the sea, within the area of Capoterra and only a few kilometers from Cagliari and its airport. The hotel, which is open all year round, is surrounded by ample grounds containing a swimming pool and private car park.

• Hotel Villa del Parco, [1]. The Villa del Parco Hotel and its magnificent Thalasso Spa is an oasis of five star luxury and elegance in Sardinia, near Santa Margherita di Pula for holidays of pure relaxation and pampering.  edit

• Cruccuris Resort Località Cruccuris, 09049, Tel: +39 070 7989020, Fax: +39 070 7989018, [12]. The Cruccuris Resort in Villasimius, provides privately accessible rooms in a beautifully landscaped garden, complemented with a four-star service.

• Stella Maris Sardinia Località Campulongu, Villasimius, 09049, Tel: +39 070 797100 , Fax: +39 070 797367, [13]. The Stella Maris in Villasimius, provides a welcoming holiday destination complemented by a four-star service in the beautiful area of Villasimius.

• Hotel Palladium, Viale Europa (Monastir, close to the SS131, well served by bus), ☎ 0039709168040 ([email protected], fax: 0039709168013), [2]. The hotel offers a wonderful respite from the city. The hotel boasts a 24 h reception, free Wi-Fi access, an outdoor swimming pool, a nice garden, and a free secure parking garage. The rooms are comfortable and quiet, the staff welcoming and helpful. (39.378911633142295,9.048528671264648) edit

• Hotel Parco Torre Chia, Località Chia, Domus de Maria, 09010, [3]. Private equipped beach just 300 metres from the hotel.  edit

Stay safe

In general, Cagliari is a very safe city in comparison to many touristic places in Europe. Most of the pubs and bars are located around 'Piazza Yenne' in the city center. This place is quite safe and lively even very late at night. Try to avoid small dark alleyways and deserted small streets.

Get out

• Alghero is known for its beautiful beaches and very good food at reasonable prices (4 h bus trip from Cagliari).

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