Castelsardo

Castelsardo’s Castel Genovese fortress was built in the 11th century to protect against incursions from North Africa and ever since it has been a symbol of Genoa’s political and commercial domination of this part of the island. Castel Genovese was one of the last strongholds to fall to the Aragonese, but it was finally conquered 1448. It then changed hands between the Austrians and Sicilians before finally becoming part of Sardinia in 1769.

Currently, the castle in Castelsardo is a museum housing a variety of objects from medieval weapons to traditional farming and fishing tools. A visit

For me, Castelsardo is the most beautiful historic town in Sardinia. It’ll take your breath away from the moment that you see it appearing around the curve in the road. The colorful homes in the “modern” city are finished with volcanic rock which adds an extra charming touch. You can’t miss the cathedral with its pointy bell-tower in the historic district (pedestrian-only, for good reason!) hovering between the medieval castle and the beautiful Mediterranean sea. It’s just gorgeous! Though I consider myself rather worldly, I actually regretted not having visited Castelsardo before.

Castelsardo is one of the most typically-Sardinian towns on the island. Perched in a beautiful spot over the sea, the village has recently undergone a lot of renovation work and its stairwells, alleys, and beautiful viewpoints at the castles are now some of the most popular tourist attractions in northern Sardinia. There are many small shops selling local crafts like woven baskets. The famous “Elephant Rock” is also located near Castelsardo.

Set on a rocky outcropping in northern Sardinia, Castelsardo seems like the distant cousin of Mont Saint Michel! It has city walls, narrow streets, a cathedral, and lots and lots of colors. Just beautiful! It’s lovely to wander through all the quiet, winding streets. They even hold public concerts and events in the streets in August.

If you’re traveling in Sardinia, don’t forget to visit this magical medieval city. It’s located on a mountaintop and has stunning views and a wonderful castle (3€ to visit!) full of interesting historical artifacts. My favorite parts were the narrow little streets and the cheerful, talkative locals.