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-born babies. Before visiting, it's worth checking out the tophet display at the Museo Archeologico to see how the tombs were laid out.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Museo Archeologico Ferruccio Barreca

0.04 MILES

This great little museum is one of the best in southern Sardinia. It has a fascinating collection of local archaeological finds, as well as models of…

2. Museo Etnografico

0.29 MILES

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…

3. Villaggio Ipogeo

0.31 MILES

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…

4. Forte Su Pisu

0.32 MILES

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…

5. Basilica di Sant’Antioco Martire

0.4 MILES

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…

7. Chiesa di Santa Maria di Monserrato

6.69 MILES

This lovely church, the centrepiece of Tratalias' borgo antico, is a prime example of Sardinia's Romanesque-Pisan architecture. Consecrated in 1213, it…

8. Museo del Carbone

6.95 MILES

Housed in Carbonia's decommissioned coalmine, the Grande Miniera di Serbariù, this fascinating museum provides a chastening look into the life of Carbonia…