Castelsardo
Welcome to Castelsardo: the city of the most beautiful villages in Italy
Castelsardo is a municipality in the province of Sassari, part of the metropolitan network of Northern Sardinia. The city is famous for its beauty and its millenary history, confirmed by its inclusion in several international networks such as "The most beautiful villages in Italy", "Les Plus Beaux Villages de la Terre", "Royal Cities of Sardinia" and the "Permanent Conference of Historical Cities of the Mediterranean".
The beauty of the territory
Castelsardo is located in the center of the Gulf of Asinara, in the historical region of Anglona in northern Sardinia. The city overlooks a series of rocky coasts with small coves, except for the beach of Lu Bagnu. This privileged position allows the city to enjoy a unique panorama on the coasts of the gulf, including those of Corsica. Also belonging to the territory of Castelsardo are the Island of Molino and the rocks of Forani.
An ancient and millenary history
The strategic position of Castelsardo favored a series of settlements during the prehistoric and nuragic eras, which are now the subject of increasingly in-depth studies in connection with the history of the Mediterranean. During the period of the Roman Empire, Castelsardo was an important commercial stopover for the town of Tibula, located near the territory of Castelsardo.
With the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of the various Sardinian judges, many lands were donated by the judges of Torres to various monastic orders. A center of aggregation for the local population developed around the Frigiano monastery, on the hill overlooking the city. In 1102, the Castle of Castelsardo was founded by the Doria, a Genoese family, who named the castle Castelgenovese. This is considered the official date of foundation of the castle, but subsequent studies indicate the most likely date as 1270.
The beauty of the medieval village
The medieval village of Castelsardo is one of the most beautiful in Italy. The Castle of the Doria, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate, and the Mediterranean Weaving Museum are just some of the beauties that the village offers. The Castle of the Doria, in particular, dominates the city from above and offers a breathtaking panoramic view.
Traditional crafts and cuisine
One of the treasures of Castelsardo is the local craftsmanship. The ancient art of Mediterranean weaving, which involves weaving palm and cane weaves to create baskets, bags, and home decorations, has been recognized as intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. In addition, the traditional cuisine of Castelsardo offers delights such as carasau bread, sweet and savory seadas, and myrtle, a typical Sardinian liqueur.
Conclusions
Castelsardo is truly one of the pearls of the Mediterranean. The city offers a unique combination of natural beauty, ancient history and medieval village, craftsmanship, and traditional cuisine. If you are planning a vacation in Sardinia, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit Castelsardo, the city of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
