Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy - March 8, 2022

 Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy - March 8, 2022


Since Covid restrictions have eased, independent exploration has been the norm for us. However, Italy currently does not allow this. So for now, our stops in Italy will continue as guided tours only.

Set apart from the mainland of Italy, the lovely island of Sardinia lies in the Tyranian Sea, just 80 miles from Africa.
Its the second largest island in the Mediterranean, with Sicily being a tiny bit larger and much more populated.
In WW ll, 70 % of Sardinia was bombed, since like Malta, it's location was of strategic importance in the Mediterranean Sea. Several empires have left their mark at this Mediterranean crossroads.
In the city of Cagliari, where only 30% of buildings survived the bombings in WW ll, we passed coastal lagoons and walked through Cagliari's Castello District, or Old Town. We saw salt ponds, pink flamingos, a Roman ampitheater, the 14th century Elephant Tower (which was a rampart and then a prison), and the 13th century Cathedral of Santa Maria, with its beautiful subterranean chapels and crypts.
It was a short, but enjoyable stop in Sardinia, Italy on a gorgeous sunny day.







Cathedral of Santa Maria


The Crypt below





Rear side of the towers, prposely built with wooden stairs in the middle so they could burn them if necessary, to keep the enemy from climbing up.
Elephant tower (front side)















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