About Castelsardo
Castelsardo is a picturesque town located on the north coast just one hour drive from Alghero airport and two hours from Olbia airport.
This historic town is best known for its ancient castle, but there are also beautiful sandy beaches which make this a somewhat strategic destination in the north of Sardinia. The village has won many awards for its outstanding beauty.
Founded by a Genovese family during the 12th century, Castelsardo is quite popular with visitors from all over who are always impressed by the magnificent ancient architecture throughout the town. Castles and fortresses were built around the same time as the origin of the town while remnants of a number of watchtowers add further to the medieval nature of Castelsardo. Featuring many pathways, this is a truly wonderful place to explore on foot.
Throughout the castle citadel, you will find several cafes, restaurants, and charming handicraft shops.
Stopping for a coffee in one of the café’s is a nice way to pass the time as elderly women sit in their doorways weaving baskets which will soon join the rather elaborate display of handicrafts laid out in front of you.
As you might expect, Castelsardo is considered an important commercial center for craftsmanship and particularly famed for its basket weaving industry. There is even a museum dedicated to this tradition, the Museo dell’Intreccio Mediterraneo, which is right at the heart of Castello Dei Doria. This is a great place to explore on foot, and the historic lanes are filled with many encounters which offer an insight into how Castelsardo appeared during the 12th century. Another highlight of a visit to this charming jewel is the local food, for Castelsardo is home to some of the best restaurants which serve a wide variety of local Sardinian cuisine, which to who has been to Sardinia, is to die (t) for! from succulent meat delicacies, fresh fish caught in the sea around the areas and to the very acquired taste of the Cazu Marzu, a cheese with live maggots worms in it! Also, the beverage industry wins many awards for their renowned wines, liquors, spirits, and the winner of the superior taste award 2019, bottled water San Martino.
Castelsardo truly is a destination from where you can explore the beautiful island.
What to do
▪SEAFRONT / MARINA STROLL
You can take a relaxing stroll on the sea promenade starting from La Marina beach (1 min away from your room) all the way to the picturesque village harbour, connected by a wooden bridge. Here you can take in the bustling marina life style while sipping an aperitivo overlooking beautiful yatches.
▪ELEPHANT ROCK
At 10 min drive, the Elephant Rock can be found.
The Elephant's Rock is a large boulder of trachyte and andesite, eroded by the atmospheric agents that gave it the shape of an elephant, it is about 4 meters high.
The Elephant's Rock has great archaeological importance, because two Domus de Janas, ancient tombs dating back to the pre-Nuragic period, have been carved inside.
▪NURAGHE PADDAGGIU
Nearby you can find the Nuraghe Paddaggiu which in Sardinian means haystack, which developed in Sardinia starting from the Bronze Age (1800 BC) up to the 2nd century BC in the middle of the Roman era.
The Nuraghe, built on a hill, was originally composed of one main tower, a bastion with two side towers and a thick surrounding wall.
▪THE DORIA CASTLE
The Castello Dei Doria is arguably the main highlight. From this castle, high up on the castle’s walls, you can admire the stunning panoramas towards the harbor and the close island of Corsica.
The castle is well maintained, with different rooms, bridges, and passages from where you can admire the view of the village down below. As you come to the main door, the ancient citadel opens up with its narrow lanes, small piazzas where you can easily lose yourself back in time and wonder about life back then.
