Castelsardo

This medieval borough rises in the center of the Asinara Gulf in Northern Sardinia, a coastline of cliffs and small bays, with a wonderful view of the Sardinian and Corsican coast.

The strategic position and mild climate favored settlements since antiquity; in Roman times there was a port called Fritum Janii, used by the town of Tibula, whose location is still unknown. After the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Judges rule, a large part of the territory was included among the possessions of a number of monasteries, such as the benedictine abbey of Tergu, and a more ancient convent on mount Frigiano. In 1102 the Doria family from Genoa built a castle in the place, calling it Castelgenovese, and the population moved inside the walls. The castle was never conquered in the course of the centuries. In the early 16th century the name was changed into Castel Aragonese and finally, when Sardinia passed under the Savoy, to Castelsardo.

In the 19th century there was a decline of the economy and a large part of the population emigrated. In more recent times however, tourism is giving a growing impulse to the territory and the economy.

The domus de janas called Elephant's Rock

The pre-nuragic wall on Mount Ossoni, near Multeddu and the nuraghe Paddaju, as well as others in the territory.

The Fortezza Bellavista, the seat of the Mediterranean Museum

The Cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate, with an altarpiece by the anonymous maestro di Castelsardo and a majolica dome, with underground crypt

The church of Santa Maria with a wooden statue of a black Christ

The lunissanti, during the Holy Week, with a pilgrimage held since the 16th century, organized by the Confraternita di Santa Croce to the abbey of Tergu.