Nora & Sant'Antioco
Nora, 35 km southwest of Cagliari, is the oldest city in Sardinia — founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC and later expanded by Carthaginians and Romans. The excavation site is spectacularly located on a headland surrounded by the sea on three sides. The remains include a Roman theater (the only one in Sardinia, still used for performances today), mosaics, baths, a temple, and parts of the Phoenician tophet (sanctuary). The famous Stele of Nora was found in front of Nora — the oldest Phoenician inscription in the western Mediterranean, mentioning the name "Sardinia" (SRDN) for the first time.
The Lagoon of Nora (Laguna di Nora) is an environmental education center offering guided kayak tours, snorkeling experiences, and tours through the wetland with flamingos, cormorants, and egrets — ideal for families. The Beach of Nora right next to the excavation is small but picturesque, with views of the ruins and the Norman tower.
Sant'Antioco, Italy's fourth-largest island, is connected to the Sardinian mainland by a Roman bridge — the oldest still-used bridge in the Mediterranean. The town of the same name has an atmospheric harbor, the early Christian basilica with catacombs (5th–6th century), and the fascinating Museo Etnografico, documenting the traditional lifestyle of fishermen and weavers. In the south of the island lies the Spiaggia di Cala Lunga — a dreamy beach with fine sand and turquoise water, surprisingly quiet even in August.
The neighboring Isola di San Pietro (reachable by ferry from Calasetta, 30 min., 5€) is a culinary insider tip: the inhabitants descend from Ligurian coral fishermen from Tabarka (Tunisia) and speak their own dialect (Tabarchino). In Carloforte, the island's only town, everything revolves around tuna fishing — the Mattanza (ritual tuna fishing) takes place every May/June, and the fresh Tonno di Carloforte is a delicacy. In addition, there are wild coastal landscapes, secluded bays, and an atmosphere that resembles a Ligurian fishing village more than Sardinia.
