Castelsardo
Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia
The Genoese Doria family built the castle on this rocky headland in the Gulf of Asinara, and the town climbed its slopes inside walls that stayed impregnable until modern weapons. It was the last town on the island to pass to Aragon, in 1448, and still keeps the Aragonese bars in its coat of arms. From the old town the view stretches across the gulf as far as Corsica.
Highlights
- Castello dei Doria, home to a museum of Mediterranean basketwork
- The cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate above the sea, its tower capped with maiolica
- Altarpiece panels by the Master of Castelsardo, in the cathedral and crypt museum
- Roccia dell'Elefante, a rust-coloured boulder shaped like a sitting elephant
- Santa Maria delle Grazie, a medieval church entered from the side
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Castelsardo (IT), Castelsardo (EN)), Wikivoyage (Castelsardo (IT), Castelsardo (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 5,656
Things to see
- Isola di Molino (IT)
- Torre di Frigiano (IT)
Events through the year
- Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot
- Holy Week ritesConfraternity processions; on Holy Monday a pilgrimage to Tergu basilica
- Sea procession of the Madonna dei pescatori
- New Year's Eve concert in the squareOpen-air concert by national artists, held since 2000
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Castelsardo). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Local food & wine
- Lobster alla castellaneseDishSpiny lobster with a sauce made from its eggs
- Spider crabLocal produce
- Sea urchinsLocal produce
Adapted from Wikipedia (Castelsardo). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
17 places to stay within 3 km
- Hotels 13
- B&Bs and guest houses 3
- Hostels 1
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Tempio Pausania · 33 km
- La Maddalena · 67 km
- Bosa · 71 km
- Lollove · 80 km
- Posada · 90 km