Sassari: City History, Coast and Sardinian Cuisine

Old Town, Museums and Architectural Traces

Sassari’s compact historic centre can be explored entirely on foot. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale G. A. Sanna is fully accessible and free of architectural barriers. However, there is a clear restriction on the exhibition tour of the Domus de Janas di Montalè: it is accessible only to groups and school classes by prior reservation.

Cathedral, Sacred Art and Festival Culture

The façade of the Cattedrale di San Nicola was completed in the first quarter of the 18th century; the cathedral is first mentioned in the Condaghe di San Pietro di Silki from the early years of the 12th century. The Museo Diocesano is located next to the Cattedrale di San Nicola and preserves its sacred silverware, liturgical vestments and furnishings, precious missals, as well as paintings. At the barbican of the Aragonese castle, today’s tour route passes through two superimposed corridors, each approximately 80 metres long. The lower corridor still contains 26 loopholes for arquebuses.

Sardinian Festivals in the City Centre

The Cavalcata Sarda is an annual event whose main focus is the penultimate Sunday in May. Traditional Sardinian costumes are presented during the event. On Sunday morning, the central procession travels approximately two kilometres through Sassari’s city centre, with more than 2,000 costumed participants passing by. The Faradda dei Candelieri di Sassari is also associated with the inscription “Feste delle Grandi Macchine a Spalla” on the Italian Intangible Cultural Heritage list; this classification applies to the year 2013.

Archaeology between the City and the Coast

A few kilometres from Sassari, on the road to Porto Torres, lies the prehistoric sanctuary of Monte d’Accoddi. It is considered a unique archaeological complex in the Mediterranean region. The 42-metre-long ascending access ramp leads to the top of the sanctuary.

Beaches, Protected Areas and Water Sports

The Platamona coastline extends across the municipal territories of Porto Torres in the west, Sassari in the centre and Sorso in the east. Porto Ferro is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) recognised by the European Union and belongs to the Natura 2000 network. At the same time, Porto Ferro is suitable for surfing and windsurfing; the waves are shaped by mistral, westerly and south-westerly winds. At Porto Palmas, the seabed near the shore is shallow and sandy, making it suitable for families. Further out, there are rocky areas used by diving enthusiasts.

Dishes with Their Own Local Character

Sassari’s culinary identity includes Fainè, a dish made from chickpea flour that is considered a defining food of the city and can still be sampled in Sassari. Cordula (“cordhura intrecciadda”) is a traditional dish made from interwoven lamb and sheep intestines. In Sassari, it is prepared mainly with peas or grilled.

Getting Around and Local Mobility

For planning a stay, the ATP SASSARI and AROUND SARDINIA apps provide tickets, timetables including real-time information, and route planning for public transport connections. The InfoSassari tourist information office provides free information in Italian and foreign languages to individual tourists, groups and tourism professionals.

Discover More Places

Alghero, Castelsardo, Marina Di Sorso, Platamona, Stintino, Olmedo, Palmadula, Tottubella, Codrongianos, Santa Maria Coghinas, Muros, Fiume Santo, Bottidda, Bessude, Putifigari, La Ciaccia, Lu Bagnu, Maristella, Sennori, Tergu, Ossi, Tissi, Cheremule, Torralba, Bono, Florinas, Fertilia, Valledoria, Sassari, Uri, Sorso, Tula, Perfugas, Porto Torres, Villanova Monteleone, Ploaghe, Mores, La Muddizza, Santa Maria La Palma, Viddalba, Osilo, Ozieri, Usini, Benetutti, Chiaramonti, Nughedu San Nicolò, Villa Gorizia, Pattada, Santa Vittoria, Ittiri, Nulvi, San Nicola, Campanedda, Banari, Ardara, Martis, Sedini, Bonorva, Marritza, Padria

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