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Discovering
the Island
Main Attractions Edition
The first scratch map of Sardinia, you will discover 40 attractions of the Island. Each of them will make you know more local elements.
36 - SELLA DEL
DIAVOLO
Cagliari is the largest city on the island, boasting about 150,000 inhabitants, and is geographically located in the center of the Mediterranean. Its position is not accidental, dominating the wide gulf of South Sardinia, it must have been a place of great commercial exchanges by sea already in the pre-Nuragic era.
In the city are recognizable archaeological and paleontological evidence dating back to different eras:
- The Neolithic with the Domus de Janas b Bartolomeo, the houses of Santa Gilla, the caves of Sant'Elia;
- The Neolithic with Molentargius and Monte Urpinu;
- The Culture of Monteclaro;
- The culture of Bunnannaro;
- The Bronze Age with Tuvixeddu and the hill of San Michele.
The historical urban connotations still recall well documented periods and historical evidence dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries when the Pisans built the districts of Castello, Marina, Villanova and Stampace. Cagliari, besides being particularly known for its archaeological, architectural, historical and cultural qualities, has unique environmental and landscape qualities.
The coastline of Cagliari is dominated by the promontory of "Sant'Elia", of sedimentary origin, which culminates at sea with the most famous postcard of the
city, Sella del Diavolo (the Devil's Saddle). It marks the "Gulf of Angels" between the area of the promenade "Poetto", beach of about 5 km, and the beach of "Calamosca".
The "Devil's Saddle" owes the origin of its name to a local legend according to which Lucifer and his followers, particularly impressed by the beauty of the coastline, tried to take possession of it by unleashing the God's reaction that sent his angels, including the archangel Michael, to try to defeat Lucifer and his followers.
The Battle was long and took place in the sky of the gulf, where Lucifer, fleeing on horseback, was thrown and lost his saddle on the banks of the gulf. This became petrified over time, defining the present shape of the promontory.
According to the beliefs, the gulf is still guarded by angels.
The promontory is home to a series of caves, presumably already home areas in the Neolithic period, 2 cisterns (one Punic and one Roman) and a tower from the Spanish period for monitoring raids by sea.
The Battle was long and took place in the sky of the gulf, where Lucifer, fleeing on horseback, was thrown and lost his saddle on the banks of the gulf. This became petrified over time, defining the present form of the promontory.
According to beliefs, the gulf is still today guarded by angels.
It is very likely that another tower was present, dating back to the Pisan period, XII-XIII century, called "Torre del Pouhet", from which the Poetto beach takes its name.
Cagliari boasts a whole series of attractions among which:
- The natural park of Molentargius;
- The salt pans;
- Poetto, the other beaches and the Sella del Diavolo;
- The archaeological areas of Sant'Eulalia and Viale Trieste;
- The archaeological park of Tuvixeddu;
- The Roman Amphitheatre;
- The castle and the gallery of San Michele;
- The Masonic house;
- The Botanical Garden;
- The archaeological museum;
- The parks of San Vincenzo, Monteclaro and Terramaini.
