Docked at Cagliari Port Terminal

Latitude 39.21 Degrees North and
Longitude 9.11 Degrees West

April 26th, 2018

Weather: Mostly Gray Overcast Sky With Light Wind and High of 68 Degrees With Low Humidity

Author: Don

Today, on a gray overcast day, we docked at the City of Cagliari on the southern end of the Italian Island of Sardinia in the middle of the western Mediterranean Sea.  Cagliari is an old fortified city built on a hilltop for easier defending.

Our tour included an overview drive in and around Cagliari, followed by a guided walk through old Cagliari.  Our first stop was at the Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria, a very old Catholic church.  Built in 1326, the Shrine portion of the building now displays a wooden case and the Madonna statue it contained which, according to legend, instantly calmed a raging storm in 1370 when the case and Madonna were thrown into the violent ocean.  They later washed ashore and since have been revered as evidence of a miracle.  A Sacristy was added in 1666 and the Basilica, which was started in 1704, was finished in 1926.  It was significantly damaged during World War II bombing, but later repaired.

We then toured the general Cagliari area, including a stop on another hilltop with a panoramic view of the town and surrounding country.  In the distance we could see salt ponds that have been used for centuries.  We saw hundreds of flamingos who thrive on the shrimp living in the ponds.

We later began our walking tour at the top of the Cagliari's Old Town, walking downhill for two hours, seeing several ancient defensive walls, gates and towers, as well as visiting another impressive old Catholic Cathedral named Santa Maria Del Castello (which was built in the 13^th century).

Cagliari's Old Town has mostly very narrow and winding streets with many very old buildings, so it was a fascinating place to explore.  At the end of our walk we had reached a modern shopping area outside the former walled city area and at the bottom of the hill.