Territory & Tourismo

Castelsardo
How to get ci
Ground: from Sassari or Porto Torres Platamona, along the coastal road, follow the signs to Castelsardo; from Santa Teresa di Gallura, always along the coastal road towards Sassari, until the fork to Castelsardo; Oschiri from Olbia, take the road that runs along Lake Coghinas up to S. Mary Coghinas, continue to Valledoria and then on the coastal road to Castelsardo.

	By sea: departing from Genoa with arrival in Porto Torres, departing from Civitavecchia, Genoa and Livorno with arrival in Olbia, from Bonifacio (Corsica) with arrival in S. Teresa..

Air: Alghero, Cagliari and Olbia are the three cities that have an airport connecting Sardinia to the mainland and the main European capitals.

The castle
The majestic Castle, overlooking a panorama of great charm, is a testimony to the ancient history of Sardinia and to the tradition of the medieval village.

It was built by the Doria family, the richest and most powerful in Genoa during the Middle Ages, to facilitate trade relations with Sardinia, then in relation with all the States of the western Mediterranean, and a settlement grew rapidly around it. The Castle, which is the largest of the

island, was fortified to protect the castellanese population from pirate raids and was never conquered by enemies.
The Castle, a favourite tourist destination, hosts the headquarters of the Museum dell'Intreccio Mediterranean, where you can admire the baskets of our local production, considerered the most typical the whole Mediterranean region.

The mighty and original walls were built with sandstone and trachyte as a defensive fortress and were over time upgraded to suit the needs of the population, but always keeping intact the original structure.

Attractions: Castelsardo is a small, ancient, enchanting and typical medieval town perched on top of a steep hill.

	Breathtaking landscapes, therefore, which can be admired at length while visiting the village. It will allow you to enjoy the sight of traditional castellani homes, still unchanged and original, with their typical long scales. You will also see women sitting in front of their homes,

working to create typical baskets and souvenirs which attract tourists and people who admire skill and creativity.

A stroll along the alleys of Castelsardo will allow you to discover the beautiful and imposing 17th century Cathedral of St. Anthony Abbot, which houses a wooden choir and an impressive organ of the same period, as well as the magnificent Madonna with Child and Angels, a work of the famous Master of Castelsardo.

You should also visit the 14th century Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses the Black Crucifix Black, named "Lu Criltu Nieddu", deemed to be the oldest crucifix in Sardinia, and an ancient statue of St. Francis.

	Tourists are advised to leave their car in parking spaces below the village and go on foot to enjoy these wonders and picturesque landscapes, and to go on the ramparts overlooking the sea.

It’s also an opportunity to visit the many small shops full of local souvenirs, as well as the sweet-smelling shops where you can taste typical Sardinian products.

Going down from Castelsardo towards Porto Torres, one arrives at Porto Frigianu with its small boats, the Tower of Frigianu and the near by island bearing the same name.

Continuing on to Valledoria you should visit the Nuraghe Paddaggiu, wonderfully preserved.

Towards Sedini you can admire the extraordinary natural monument La Roccia dell'Elefante, a large rock eroded by the wind, looking like a elephant standing on two legs, its trunk turned to the road.

	The sea Castelsardo is not just land: along the coast you can find many delightful small white sand beaches and bays around Bagnu Lu, a hamlet located at the foot of the village, immediately after the port, and which has grown dramatically in recent years.

Other bays are located to the east: The Vignaccia, Cala Ostina, Pedra Ladda.

Traditions and festivals
Castelsardo stands out for strong religious folklore. For example, the famous Easter procession, the most important of Sardinia, which takes place on monday of the Holy Week, called Lunissanti, with white penitents in the dark of night, singing solemn songs that recall ancient Christian rites.

The numerous restaurants located across the castellanese region offer a variety of dishes made with fish, and particularly the castellanese fish soup.