The prime purpose of our visit to Cagliari was to see the Nuraghic section at the Archeology Museum in the Citadelle way at the top of the hill. And that, alone, was worth the winding trip. Sardinian museums are becoming a haven from the heat for us, but a joy to spend time in. They are beautifully laid out. The finds are astonishing, and there is often enough English to be able to decipher the whys and wherefores of most of the artifacts. And if there is not, there are books to be bought which help.
Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia. It has had a checkered history, with different invading bodies in control at various times. The Romans built the amphitheatre, the walkways, roads and warehouses. The Pisans built the wall around the high hill that tops the town along with two distinctive white defensive towers, setting up that section of town that today is called Castello: the Administrative area of the city. Not many of these features are in good repair. Many are scaly with age and dereliction, falling to bits, and blighted with grime while so doing.
Cagliara has a new set of invaders these days. They are the grafitti urchins: who take it upon themselves to litter practically every public and private building with mostly amateur and unsightly scribble and scroll. Tho', contrarily, I rather like this piece. Added to which Cagliara's old city is quite filthy, making it an unpleasant place to spend time in, dog poo, scraps, litter and graffiti are all too common. The roads surrounding the city are thick with gunk as well.
For a city whose residents reputedly earn more than any other place in Sardinia there seems little public spirit. Little effort made to present their city with a clean face. It is an old city. It is tired. It needs a face lift. But it, apparently, is not poor. I get that. Yet, how inexpensive is soap, water and a bit of elbow grease?
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