Cagliari And All It’s Wonderful Little Quirks

There is something quite exquisite about a capital city so intent on being imperfect.

When I heard We had been chosen to go to Southern Sardinia to sample what it had to offer our guests; I imagined emerald green waters and secret coves with paradise beaches at every corner.My husband Jamie and I, had to remind yourselves that we were going to the Sardinian capital not the deserted island beaches I had in mind.

The City itself had so many ancient Venetian influences throughout stunning limestone coloured buildings with cast iron galleried balconies looking over the old town.

Castello itself is in the Marina district and is home to some of Italy’s most important pieces of architecture.What do I mean by imperfect. In travel, especially in Europe and importantly Italy there is a very delicate contrast between old and new. The historic town set on the hilltops being painstakingly restored and excavated to preserve by archaeologists infused with graffiti covered art and seemingly meaningless tagging of street signs and buildings.

There is however a feeling that engulfs you when wondering aimlessly with the hope of getting completely lost in this charming romantic city. The feeling we got is that in Cagliari it’s ok to be surrounded by history and beauty as well as know you are a 21st century modern city.

Locals and tourists alike are content on eating local traditional Sardinian cuisine by the street side in small alley ways vaguely lit so long as there is a finely produced local wine to wash it back.It’s the Romance of this alfresco lifestyle that really encapsulate you and personifies sophisticated Italian culture.

There is a big emphasis on Island life here. The food is not just Italian food it it’s local Sardinian food. Businesses like hotels in the area support local Sardinian artists and you really get the impression of a community that sticks together.The beauty and charm of the City is however a place surrounded by steep hills and awkward roads which could make for some uneven difficult strolls.

“Why you need to lose the map and get lost”

Let you senses navigate you. If you are hungry use your nose if you’re in ore of architectural heritage let your eyes allow you to explore the intricate detail in the buildings. If you want ambiance you can stumble upon a jazz group that tour the district and set up their 1920s America Jazz sessions complete with dancers. The locals and tourist couldn’t help but get involved even if just to smile.

One of our discoveries was a Jazz ensemble doing a 4 day live set in Concerti Mostre Incontri Degustazioni Cagliari. We could hear would class live Jazz and the unforgettable sound of an opera house echo of applause.

After dinner, we sought out the music and behind our hotel we found a free entry live Jazz session although we only caught the very end of people crying out for an encore. Speaking of dinner. We have eaten our own weight in authentic local pizzas. Traditionally cooked in ancient clay ovens most restaurants we sampled has a huge persuasion on the specifics of where their ingredients were sourced and precisely how their flour had been milled.

It’s this attention to detail that makes having a pizza in Cagliari such a wonderful culinary experience. They even managed to convert me into a pizza loving fan something I never thought possible.

Speaking of beaches after a day and night in town we were ready to explore further afield. We were advised by helpful locals that people are often surprised to learn the city of Sardinian has a beach.

We took a 3-euro bus trip for 20 minutes and were in Poetto Beach. 7 kilometres of beach-side marina and harbour front. Plenty of small yachts and boats you can hire. There is very reasonably priced restaurants serving snacks and lunches to please all tastes.

• Lunch cost us €15 per person including an alcoholic drink each.
• Beds on the beach with an umbrella is just €4 per person.

We put our headphones on and for a moment forgot that was were working at all.

The bus in and out of town is worth a mention.  Usually no space to sit and surrounded by too many people in a hot town leaves little to be desired.Although taxis are readily available close to your hotel getting a taxi back from where you were dropped off is not always so easy.We had a blisteringly hot 25-minute walk with lots of hills and to be honest we would have just jumped in a taxi if the choice was there.

If I am to be picky the city itself is 1 hour 20 minutes away from some of Europe’s finest beaches and coves so if you have the time I would stay for two nights in the city pre-cruise and two nights in Chia at the southernmost point of the island to explore the countries coastline after your med cruise.

Overall our experience in Cagliari is one of romance, culture, fine wines, delicate local flavours. It’s a perfect city break for those starting a cruise for a night or two.