Cagliari, journey to the Tuvixeddu necropolis: an undervalued jewel

A unique site, symbol of the Island in the world. At the center of a millionaire dispute between entrepreneurship and culture. Protected and valued, certainly, but not enough. The necropolis of Tuvixeddo is the largest in the entire Mediterranean basin, it hosts burials from the Phoenician-Punic period and preserves finds dating back to the Neolithic. It's a shame not to be able to enjoy it to the fullest: there is a lack of signs, directions, guides, services and cleaning.

"It's an under-appreciated attraction, there aren't many necropolises like this" claims Alessia Lai , unemployed. «I know that many foreigners have problems because there are no signs explaining the ruins and there are no guides. Then it's difficult to get there , there's no public transport so if you're not from the area it's a real challenge. Luckily I live nearby."

The park is accessible, free of charge, only from via Falzarego, reachable via via Zara or the parallel streets of via Vittorio Veneto. For her it is a disappointment that the secondary entrance, the one on Vico Avendrace, has been closed: previously school groups passed through, now it is occupied by stragglers.

A detail also confirmed by Valeria Marras, a health worker who lives in the city: "The secondary entrance has become a camp for people who take drugs" . «I come here to walk the dog», adds the doctor, «a quiet, clean place, surrounded by nature, where many tourists also come».

Among these Serafima and Michael S., a Russian couple who arrived in Cagliari by plane to visit the capital. «Beautiful and interesting place, never visited such an ancient monument», say the two. «However , we couldn't understand what we were observing, we had to look on Wikipedia: the signs with information on the ruins are impossible to read . It's not good, especially for us tourists who would like to enjoy this fantastic heritage to the fullest."

The aspect of the indications is truly delicate. At the entrance there is a gigantic map that tells, in Italian and English, the history and spaces of the necropolis. But the signs with the specifications of the individual ruins are old, incomprehensible. So there is a need for guidance. Absent. You could go to the information office, which is often closed anyway.

There is a lack of staff, public relations workers who know languages and know how to direct tourists. The figure temporarily assigned to hospitality is the same one who takes care of the Tuvixeddu gardens. «My job» explains Giancarlo Martuzzu, park maintainer, «is to keep the greenery clean and welcome tourists» . «The park», he reiterates, «is not difficult to get around, perhaps some improvements can be made, such as adding signs to reach the necropolis or building benches in the lookout area . The municipality must take care of this."

A further problem is caused by confusion and dirt surrounding the perimeter areas of the necropolis. In addition to the encampments, just outside the fences there is no shortage of various waste and unused objects , threats to the integrity and beauty of the park. To make the situation worse, the ironwork of the former cement plant near the IC Satta - Spano - De Amicis, still present today despite its uselessness.

According to Osvaldo Giorgi, former professor of Pharmacology , the necropolis «has not been safeguarded in the best possible way, constructions were made without respecting the constraints, in adjacent protected areas. But this is customary in Cagliari. More attention is needed, in order to preserve these places of historical and archaeological interest, emblems of the city."