Sulcis
Sant'Antioco's Punic necropolis and its cavernous tombs were taken over by islanders in the Middle Ages as a safe haven from marauding Arab raiders. Here…
Must-see attractions in Southwestern Sardinia
Southwestern Sardinia
A vast white scoglio (rock) rising out of the glassy blue seas in front of Masua, the Sugarloaf is one of the coast's great postcard sights. Named because…
Sulcis
Five kilometres south of Santadi, the Grotte Is Zuddas is a fascinating cave system. Of particular note are the helictites in the main hall. No one really…
Sulcis
A quick 5.5km drive north of Carloforte brings you to La Punta, a desolate, windswept point with sea views over to the offshore Isola Piana. In May and…
Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie
Southwestern Sardinia
Originally constructed at the end of the 13th century, the modest Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie retains little of its original form. About the only…
Southwestern Sardinia
Overlooking Piazza del Municipio and the Cattedrale di Santa Chiara is the grand neoclassical Municipio (town hall). The salmon-pink building houses…
Sulcis
On the road between Santadi and Villaperuccio, this award-winning winery is the place to stock up on local wines. Particularly good are the highly rated…
Sulcis
At this small museum in the historic centre, you can investigate age-old living habits, as illustrated by an assortment of traditional farm tools and…
Southwestern Sardinia
About 2km west of Iglesias, the sprawling Monteponi mining complex, now abandoned, was once one of Sardinia's most important producers of lead, zinc and…
Southwestern Sardinia
Lording it over the electric green landscape, the scant ruins of the 12th-century Castello di Marmilla sit atop a perfectly pyramidal hill near the hamlet…
Southwestern Sardinia
Just off Piazza Quintino Sella, stairs lead to a stout square tower. This is all that remains of the Castello Salvaterra, the once-mighty Pisan fortress…
Southwestern Sardinia
The wooded countryside around Villacidro, an agricultural town best known for its saffron-based liqueur, harbours a number of striking waterfalls. Chief…
Sulcis
Approaching Siliqua on the SS293 road, you'll see the fairy-tale image of castle ruins atop an extraordinary craggy mountain. These belong to the Castello…
Sulcis
Pula's small archaeology museum provides a useful introduction to what lies down the road at Nora. Alongside ceramics found in Punic and Roman tombs, some…
Southwestern Sardinia
In Arbus's hilltop centre, just off Piazza Mercato, the Museo del Coltello Sardo is dedicated to the ancient Sardinian art of knife-making. The museum was…
Sulcis
Uphill from the seafront, this small museum is housed in an 18th-century fort, one of the first masonry buildings to be erected on the island. Of chief…
Southwestern Sardinia
A kilometre west of Barumini, the Parco Sardegna in Miniatura is a family-friendly theme park centred on a miniature reconstruction of Sardinia. Other…
Riserva Naturale di Monte Arcosu
Sulcis
Encompassing some 3600 hectares, the Riserva Naturale di Monte Arcosu is a WWF reserve and one of the few remaining habitats of the cervo sardo (Sardinian…
Sulcis
Dating to the 8th century BC, the tophet was an ancient sanctuary used by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians to cremate and bury their children and still…
Sulcis
Also known as the Forte Sabaudo, this 19th-century Piedmontese fort marks the highest point in town. Its most famous action took place in 1815 when the…
Chiesa di Santa Teresa d'Avila
Southwestern Sardinia
On the Giara's southeastern flank, the town of Gesturi is dominated by the 30m-high bell tower of the Chiesa di Santa Teresa d'Avila. The faithful flock…
Southwestern Sardinia
Four kilometres north of Domusnovas, the Grotta di San Giovanni, an 850m-long natural cave-gallery adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, is worth…
Basilica di Sant’Antioco Martire
Sulcis
Hidden behind the modest baroque facade is a sublimely simple 5th-century church. To the right of the altar stands a wooden effigy of St Antiochus, a…
Southwestern Sardinia
Before you head up to the Giara, check out the Chiesa di San Pietro in Tuili. The pride and joy of this much-altered 15th-century church is its colourful…
Southwestern Sardinia
Housed in a 17th-century monastery, this small museum displays a varied collection of artefacts and artworks relating to the activities of Sardinia's…
Museo Etnografico 'Sa Domu Antiga'
Sulcis
To give an idea of how villagers lived in the early 20th century, this small museum recreates the home of a relatively well-off rural worker. Admission…
Civico Museo Archeologico Villa Abbas
Southwestern Sardinia
At the top of the historic centre, this modest museum showcases a collection of finds from local archaeological sites. Among the finest pieces are two 8th…
Southwestern Sardinia
The Chiesa di San Gregorio makes a fetching town landmark. Built between 1300 and 1325 in a mixed Romanesque Gothic style, it boasts a sombre, soaring…
Southwestern Sardinia
Records illustrating Iglesias' past are kept in the Archivio Storico, the city's historical archive. Of particular interest is the 1327 Breve di Villa di…
Chiesa di Nostra Signora di Valverde
Southwestern Sardinia
Next to the town cemetery, about 750m from Piazza Quintino Sella, is another of Iglesias' historic churches. It retains little of its 13th-century…
Southwestern Sardinia
Beyond the unsightly remnants of Masua's mine, this lovely little sandy beach provides memorable close-ups of the Pan di Zucchero rock stack.
Southwestern Sardinia
Guarding the crossroads in Barumini's village centre, this squat 17th-century church sports a crenellated facade punctuated by an unusual octagonal rose…
Southwestern Sardinia
Flanking the Cattedrale di Santa Chiara on Piazza del Municipio is the bishop's 18th-century residence, the Palazzo Vescovile. It is closed to the public.
Chiesa di Nostra Signora del Buon Cammino
Southwestern Sardinia
To the northwest of the town centre, this white 18th-century church, now part of a monastery, is perched on a tall hill commanding lovely views.
Southwestern Sardinia
About 4km south of the Terme di Sardara, a dirt road leads to the empty walls of the Castello Monreale. Built in the 13th century by the governor of…
