A journey through the history of Sardinia

Nora: the archaeological area and the submerged city

Near Pula, we find Nora, one of the major centres of the Phoenician, Punic and Roman periods in Sardinia.
The site is now a major archaeological park in which 4 Italian universities work simultaneously, and is open to the public for guided tours.

Situated strategically between two harbours, on the Capo Pula headland, the ancient city of Nuragic foundations preserves beautiful remains of Phoenician temples, the temple of Aesculapius, traces of the marketplace and Roman baths, with splendid well-preserved mosaics. The water channels and cisterns are also still clearly visible, as are some remains of the necropolis. Finally, the splendid Roman theatre, today a summer venue for open-air performances, is worth mentioning.

Many of the artefacts found during the excavations are kept in the Pula Municipal Archaeological Museum, which is located in the historic centre.

But Nora is not just what we see on the surface: a large part of Sardinia's oldest city is in fact submerged and is a true paradise for lovers of underwater archaeology or those simply fond of diving.

Nuraghe di Barumini

It is worth travelling into the hinterland north of Cagliari, at the foot of the Giara Park to visit - accompanied by guides - the very important nuragic site "Su Nuraxi" in Barumini, the most important one in Sardinia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
The original complex consisted of five towers, a central one called Mastio and four lateral ones joined by walls, which enclosed a courtyard overlooked by houses, equipped with a well with a spring.
Su Nuraxi (The Nuraghe) went through several historical phases characterised by continual change, from the Middle Bronze Age (1550-1300 BC) to the Punic-Roman Age (5th century BC - 3rd century AD), but the most interesting ruins that have come to light are those of the early Iron Age dwellings, in which the kitchen with the oven still stands out.