The history of the capital is rich not only above ground, but also underground: and on Saturday, February 14 , two guided tours will reveal these secret corners of Cagliari . The tour will begin at 10 am with a morning tour of the main underground tombs in the historic center with Ichnussa Archeo Tour , and then continue in the afternoon with an urban excursion to the churches and crypts of the Stampace district , starting at 3:30 pm and operated by Nadir Sardinia .
The morning tour
Visitors will meet in Piazza Palazzo at 10:00 am , right at the foot of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta . Led by archaeologist and regional guide Carla Perra , they will first explore the underlying Crypt of the Martyrs , built in 1614 by Francesco d'Esquivel to house sacred relics, before moving on to the Crypt of Santa Restituta , which reuses an ancient cistern transformed into a place of worship in the Middle Ages. The tour will conclude in the Crypt of the Holy Sepulchre , curiously rediscovered only in the early 20th century, after having served as an ossuary for a monastic brotherhood centuries earlier. An important part of the visit will be the account of the religious practices in those underground spaces. To participate in the tour, reservations are required by this evening . Registrations will not be permitted, only photos.
The urban excursion
The meeting point is in Via Azuni in the afternoon, in front of the Church of Sant'Anna at 3:30 PM . Shifting the focus from Castello to Stampace and Marina, the port districts will be the scene of an educational walk that will touch both above ground, going from the historic Torre degli Alberti to the churches of San Michele , Santo Sepolcro , and Sant'Anna itself, and underground, with a visit to the crypts of Santa Restituta and the Holy Sepulchre. Advance booking is required for this tour.