Castelsardo has a place in my heart too.
Castelsardo is one of the jewels of a town on the north coast of Sardinia. It has an ancient castle and a fantastic view in all directions. On a clear day, you can see Corsica. This is the place I have visited most outside Norway—more than 30 times over 20 years. I remember many fantastic times, weddings, and a welcoming family in this town.
History of Castelsardo
Castelsardo is a picturesque and historic town best known for its ancient castle. This beautiful place to explore on foot features many pathways, while the castle, Castello dei Doria, is arguably the main highlight. In the 12th century, the Doria family came to colonize the area; they fortified the headland for commercial reasons and called it “Castelgenovese.” The Doria developed town planning and administrative and political systems in the city.
In 1448 the Aragonese conquered Castelgenovese, calling it “Castel-Aragonese” and raising it to the rank of “Royal City,” directly dependent on the Crown of Spain. During the same period, the cathedral was built after transferring the Bishop’s seat here from Ampurias in 1502. The town was occupied without interruption by the Aragonese until the advent of Savoy in 1720, when Carlo Emanuele III (1701-1773) gave it a new and definitive name, “Castel-Sardo,” to recall that the area belonged to the Kings of Sardinia.
Castelsardo today
Today Castelsardo is a vital tourist center based on its history, natural beauty, and typical products. Its fortifications are still intact. Love brought me to this town, and it treated me and taught me to appreciate this place. I feel so privileged that I could spend so many holidays here.
It is not so often you will see the traditional costumes used, but on some tourist tours, you can be served by people dressed up for the occasion.
Traditional handicrafts
From the castle, an ancient citadel opens up, and it is here you will find several cafes, restaurants, and charming handicraft shops. Stopping for a coffee in one of the cafés is an excellent way to pass the time as elderly women sit in their doorways weaving baskets which will soon be on display in handicrafts stores. Castelsardo is particularly famed for its basket-weaving industry. There is even a museum dedicated to this tradition, the Museo dell’Intreccio Mediterraneo.
Beaches
Since Sardegna is a Mediterranean island, it has so many excellent beaches. There are quite a few close by Castelsardo, but if you have a car, you can visit several beaches on the Island’s north coast. My favorite was Isola Rossa, about 30 minutes drive from the town, where they have a lovely beach restaurant, so you can make it a day out. A much longer journey is to Costa Esmeralda, one of the most famous beaches on Sardinia, where the rich and famous have their summer houses and yates.
The other most beautiful beach is in the north/west, passing Alghero and going to Stintino. It has white sand and turquoise water; the drawback is that it is very popular on warm sunny days.
Visiting Castelsardo
Since I never had to book a place to stay when I visited Castelsardo, I can not recommend any accommodation. However, the city is like most typical Italian cities, full of small and more significant hotels, and not to forget plenty of good restaurants. If you are passing by, you should absolutely spend some time in this Mediterranean pearl. Apart from all the beaches, you can explore the Nuraghes, these ancient constructions found only in Sardinia and built between 1900 and 730 B.C. Today it has become the symbol of Sardinia and its distinctive culture known as the Nuragic civilization. More than 7,000 nuraghes have been found on the Island.
Around three kilometers east of Castelsardo, you find the Roccia dell’Elefante, The Elephant Rock. It is a popular place to stop for some family photos. Whatever you choose, do not forget to put Castelsardo on your bucket list. I certainly hope I can be back there one day!
