AREA ARCHEOLOGICA DI SANT'EULALIA

The heart of the medieval district of Marina is home to amazing archaeological remains. Discovered by chance in 1990 during restoration work on the church of Sant'Eulalia, this archaeological area, which is accessed via the basilica, includes remains from the Roman, medieval and modern periods. Excavations have uncovered the strata of human settlements in the town at different periods. The visitor wanders through the ruins of these ancient cities and travels over a few hundred metres through more than 6,000 years of history. The oldest remains date back to the 4th century BC. At that time, Cagliari was called Krly and was occupied by the Punics. A sanctuary frequented until the 1st century attests to their presence here. In the^5th century AD the area became residential and was connected to the town centre by a wide paved street. On the 13 meters of the remaining 13 meters, one can still observe the traces of the passage of the chariots. From the 7th century onwards, this corner of the town was abandoned due to regular invasions by the sea. The site falls into oblivion and is covered by dust and earth. When the Aragonese seized Cagliari, they erected a church dedicated to the patron saint of Barcelona, Eulalie, covering the ancient remains for several centuries. The visit begins with a crypt converted into a bunker where the Cagliaritani hid during the bombings of the Second World War.