Cagliari Cruises, Sardinia

Sardinia’s capital has managed to strike just the right balance between old and new. On the one hand the city is dotted with history – the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans all left their mark on this place. On the other, it’s got its fair share of boutiques and gourmet restaurants, where you can do as the locals do, and spend no less than a couple of hours at lunch.

• Climb up the winding streets to explore the pretty old quarter. This area is dominated by the Pisan fortifications of the Castello, and the nooks and crannies here are full of antique shops, art galleries and museums, like the National Museum of Archaeology.
• Be whisked back in time at the ancient town of Nora, one of Sardinia’s oldest settlements. While you’re here you can wander around a Carthaginian warehouse, Roman baths, and an old church where Sardinia’s patron saint was martyred.
• Get your history fix at Barumini, the most important archaeological area in Sardinia. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the ruins of Bronze Age dwellings and places of worship. But the highlight here is an ancient castle, known as a Nuraghe, which dates back to the 15th century BC.