Cagliari, unmissable destination of the religious tourism

It would takes two whole days to visit all the churches of Cagliari, starting from the Basilica di San Saturnino (VI century A.D.), example of early Christian building, reconstructed in the XI century. After many years of refurbishes, it was opened again in 2004 either for celebrations and cultural events.

Very interesting is the Cathedral of Santa Maria with the crypt that contains the remains of the martyrs of Cagliari: remains of the church raised by the Pisans (1258) are only the bell-tower, two lateral entrances and the Sacro Cuore Chapel ; the other parts originate from of later works that have deeply modified its physiognomy (between 1670 and 1702), until the reconstruction of the facade in new-Romanesque style (1933). In the quarter of Castello there are also the churches of Santa Maria del Sacro Monte di Pietà (1591) and the Basilica di Santa Croce (risen in 1661, above what remained of the synagogue destroyed after the expulsion of the Jews).

Two hundred meters far from the Buoncammino jail, in the XIII century, the little church of San Pancrazio was built (since the XVII century, the same church has been dedicated to San Lorenzo). Unfortunately, it is not visitable every day.

At only a few hundreds meters from the Marina of Su Siccu rises the Basilica di Nostra Signora di Bonaria, the patron saint of the sailors. The church was constructed in the XVIII century and it is a famous place of pilgrimage. On the 24th April1970 the Pope Paul VI went there on a pilgrimage, on the occasion of the sixth centenarian of the discovery of the Madonna simulacrum (look at Legends). The adjacent sanctuary, going back to the XIV century, is the only evidence of the Aragonese settlement during the assault to the Castle defended by the Pisans.

The churches of Sant' Efisio (1782) and of Sant' Anna (1817), almost adjacent, are well-worth a visit too. Very fascinating also the churches of San Domenico (1254, of great value its cloister), Sant’Agostino (1580, it conserves important archaeological diggings), San Mauro (dating back to 1650 and especially known for the beauty of its cloister and for having hosted until a few years ago the first recovery community of drug addicts of Sardinia), Sant’Eulalia (which conserves important archaeological diggings), Sant’Ignazio, San Michele and Santo Sepolcro.