Cagliari is somewhere we’ve been before. It’s a nice enough place, but I wouldn’t say it was our favourite port, so we weren’t in a hurry, thinking we’d just have a short wander. We had thought about walking to the Salt Lakes or a nature reserve type park, but they were both a way off, temperatures are rising (finally), and we had to be back on ship for 3.30pm, so we decided to leave it for this visit. Maybe next time.
Instead, we walked the opposite way around to our last visit. We knew the layout of the city a little better this time, so we didn’t meander quite so much and made a better job of it. Today was a bank holiday in Sardinia as they celebrate their Independence Day. There was a parade going on in the city centre just as we walked through. Police had closed off the roads as the people of Cagliari marched through, waving flags and singing patriotic songs. There were a lot of people too! All the cars just had to wait.
From there we went on to the Botanical Garden, a cool, pleasant space we’d not visited before; €4 each. I was really impressed at the way the cactus garden was laid out.
Then on up the hill to the amphitheatre we’d seen last time but couldn’t get into. Apparently work is still ongoing, but the gates were open this time, and we could go along a path at the top of the site to have a look down. €3 each.
After taking a few photo’s and watching the hooded crows, we continued uphill until we found a little café for a break. Smoking is much more common than at home in these Mediterranean countries, and the cigarettes have a much stronger, rougher smell, more like cigars. Not too pleasant to sit next to when eating, but we did find a café and a clear table eventually. And then it was upwards just a little further. There were quite a lot of view points along our route, but not a very good view to be honest, ports and industrial land mostly.
Eventually we came to a gate inside the old city wall. Here the streets are very narrow. Most of the cars that drove through were small, seemingly speeding along narrow streets with pedestrians hopping out of the way to let them pass. Many of the streets are too narrow even for small cars, with motorbikes and mopeds being the preferred transport.
We arrived at the Cathedral of Santa Maria and Santa Cecilia, which we’ve been to before. It’s free to visit, inside is absolutely beautiful, and in a condition that I think puts the Basilica in Venice to shame.
A little further on are terraces, sited at the top of the cliff on which the old town is built and giving extensive views of the rest of Cagliari, which looks like a pleasant modern city.
Further along from the terraces, pedestrian walkways slope downhill to a large open square, with a grand arch and more views. Sadly, there was a lot of graffiti and despite the fact small planted areas were well tended, it looked sort of disused. A shame really, because it seemed to have so much potential.
From there, it was back to the shuttle bus, the ship and the living room for extra rations of chocolate chip cookies. Mmm mmm.
We have a couple of sea days now until Lisbon.......
Read about our last visit to Cagliari here:- 16 June 22 - Cagliari, Sardinia
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