Cagliari is Sardinia's largest and most populated city, located in the heart of a metropolitan region with a population of 430,000 people (150,000 of whom live in the capital city alone), as well as the island's primary Mediterranean cruise liner center. From prehistoric periods until the rule of the Savoy, the city's history spans thousands of years.

The Castello district, positioned atop the city's tallest hill, is home to medieval bastions that are now the heart and soul of nightlife, as well as scenic lanes lined with great old mansions like as the Palazzo Regio and Palazzo di Città, as well as the Cathedral of Santa Maria. The medieval turrets dell'Elefante and San Pancrazio, which defend the castle's entrance, are definitely worth seeing.

The bastione di Saint Remy stairs links Villanova to the Castle quarter. Every year at Easter, during Holy Week, a passionate air of religious devotion takes over the quarter, while the rest of the year, the elegant boutiques and churches welcome you with less ado: the cloister of San Domenico, the Church of San Saturnio, and the Basilica di Nostra Signora di Bonaria, Sardinia's Christian temple.

The Marina area, located under Castello, will amaze you with its beautiful structures and the porticos of Via Roma, which include the Palazzo Civico. It is the emblem of the town's multi-ethnicity, having been founded as a fishing and trading settlement. The Church of Sant'Eulalia, which houses priceless Roman relics, is located here.

In May, the Stampace area hosts the colorful Sant'Efisio festival, which the whole island looks forward to. The baroque Church of Sant'Anna is located on its tiny lanes. Don't miss the neighboring Anfiteatro, one of Sardinia's most famous Roman remains, as well as the Botanical Gardens, a lush green sanctuary in the heart of the city.

The Castle of San Michele and Tuvixeddu, the Mediterranean's biggest Phoenician-Punic necropolis, are both located just outside of town (VI-III century BCE). When you're ready to be surrounded by nature, travel to the Cagliari lagoon, the Molentargius-Saline park (where you can explore on a mountain bike to witness the pink flamingos in flight), or the sea.

Take a swim at Poetto, the city's 8-kilometer-long soft-sand beach with a walking and cycling route. It is a joy even at night, when it exhibits its more dazzling aspect. Poetto is the starting point for a trip to Calamosca and Sella del Diavolo.

Finally, there's the regional food to sample, such as pasta with bottarga (cured mullet or tuna roe) and artichokes, burrida with catshark and walnuts, and fregula con cocciula (semola balls with clams).