Castlesardo

Castlesardo is one of Sardinia’s and indeed Italy’s most picturesque villages. The town sits on a large rocky promontory that juts out into the Mediterranean Sea.

Having decided to hire a car for a few days, our first destination is Castlesardo. A very picturesque historic town on the northwest coast of Sardinia about 60 miles from our base Costa Smeralda.

It took us about 90 minutes to get there through the Sardinian hinterland. The roads are not great, very twisty with some bad bends 🫣 but we arrived safely at Castlesardo. Parking was free as we were outside of the town.

It was about 15 minutes walk into Castlesardo. The walk is definitely worth it as the view of the castle and old town are amazing. This is definitely the location if you want some iconic pictures of Castlesardo.

We had a casual stroll through the town making our way up the steep incline to the castle. The new town is a drab affair if I am being honest however as we made our way up to the old town and castle things started to become decidedly more interesting.

We visited midweek in June so the town wasn’t packed with visitors giving us a real feel for what life is like in a town that had stood for nearly a millennium. It is an amazing place to discover on foot however a level of fitness is needed as you negotiate the steep inclines. There are Tuk Tuk tours available if you prefer an alternative option.

Doria Castle

At the top, we visited the castle which cost €5 admission. The castle was built by the Doria family and has now been converted into a museum with some exhibits about basket weaving which the area is renowned for. It was pretty uneventful, to be honest unless you like basket weaving then it will be one of the best museums you have visited.

Once outside we got to the best bit of the castle, the terrace situated amongst the battlements which gives fantastic views over the town, along the coast and along the Gulf of Asenira. The views from the castle are fabulous and worth the cost of admission just for this.

After visiting the castle it was time to discover the old town. It was worth it, exploring a labyrinth of lanes and alleyways walking up and down the slopes of this Medieval citadel. With endless steps we found tall narrow houses and stoned paved streets.

A typical scene within Italy and Sardinia is no different in this respect. We found restaurants and cafes with tables set up among the stairways and alleys in fact anywhere with an open space you will see the opportunity to engage in some alfresco dining.

Castlesardo cathedral is in the heart of the old town. The present structure dates back to its reconstruction in 1597 and is a mixture of Catalan, Gothic and Renaissance elements and overlooks the sea.

The citadel walls were also very impressive with the nearby citadel now covered with blocks of colourful houses. The old town offers a very enchanting vision, everywhere we looked from any prospective gave us a picture-perfect setting.

This very charming town offers up its hidden treasures as we continue to explore the historic lanes that offer an ancient and authentic insight into the medieval side of the island

It’s very difficult not to be impressed by the magnificent ancient architecture which we viewed throughout the town, castles and fortresses. They were all built around the same time as the origin of the town

Another highlight of visiting this charming town is the local food. Castlesardo has a reputation of being one of the best places to sample Sardinian gastronomy.

The choices are endless at the top and you will find many fancy restaurants with panoramic views. For a more authentic experience dine in one of the many restaurants situated in the heart of the old town. The food was delicious and prices were very reasonable less than we paid in Costa Smeralda.

Another chance of a majestic view of Castlesardo as we go back to the car park on the outskirts of town on what has been a very captivating visit.