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 di Acquafredda, a 13th-century castle that served as a temporary hideout for Guelfo della Gherardesca when his father, Ugolino, the reviled ruler of Iglesias, was imprisoned in Pisa and the family banished. Nowadays, little more than the castle walls remain.
Castello di Acquafredda
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Santuario & Basilica di Nostra Signora di Bonaria
16.77 MILES
Crowning the Bonaria hill, around 1km southeast of Via Roma, this religious complex is a hugely popular pilgrimage site. Devotees come from all over the…
16.21 MILES
Cagliari’s graceful 13th-century cathedral stands proudly on Piazza Palazzo. Except for the square-based bell tower, little remains of the original Gothic…
16.15 MILES
Of the four museums at the Cittadella dei Musei, this is the undoubted star. Sardinia’s premier archaeological museum showcases artefacts spanning…
22.68 MILES
A marvel of early-20th-century engineering, Porto Flavia is a port dug into cliffs 50m above the sea. Consisting of two 600m tunnels and an ingenious…
24.84 MILES
A sensational sandy beach wedged into a natural inlet between craggy rocks, Cala Domestica is a heavenly spot. Its shallow blue waters are ideal for…
18.95 MILES
An easy bus ride from the centre, Cagliari's fabulous Poetto beach extends for 7km beyond the green Promontorio di Sant'Elia, nicknamed the Sella del…
19.38 MILES
An impressive Roman temple set in bucolic scenery 9km south of Fluminimaggiore, the Tempio di Antas has stood in isolation since the 3rd century AD. Built…
16.16 MILES
This hilltop citadel is Cagliari’s most iconic image, its domes, towers and palazzi, once home to the city’s aristocracy, rising above the sturdy ramparts…
Nearby attractions
1. Riserva Naturale di Monte Arcosu
5.79 MILES
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…
7.35 MILES
In the country near Narcao, the Villaggio Minerario Rosas is a fascinating museum complex housed in what was once an important lead, copper and zinc mine…
8.15 MILES
In Uta, a farm village 20km northwest of Cagliari, this beautifully proportioned church is a wonderful example of Sardinian Romanesque architecture. It…
11.68 MILES
Four kilometres north of Domusnovas, the Grotta di San Giovanni, an 850m-long natural cave-gallery adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, is worth…
5. Storia di San Sperate Mural
11.95 MILES
One of San Sperate's colourful murals worth checking out is Pinuccio Sciola's epic Storia di San Sperate (History of San Sperate; 1997).
11.99 MILES
One of Sardinia's most important archaeological sites, this ancient necropolis occupies a natural rocky amphitheatre in the verdant countryside near…
12.7 MILES
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…
8. Museo Etnografico 'Sa Domu Antiga'
12.93 MILES
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…