The Archaeological zone of S.Eulalia


Under the church of S.Eulalia, in the Marina quarter, there is a fragment of the ancient past of Cagliari. In fact, almost two thousand years of history are concentrated into an area of about 300 sq. m.

A paved street, more than four metres wide and 16 metres long, takes visitors back to the first centuries of the Roman Empire. This ancient road probably led from "Karales" (the Castle) right down to the port.

In the second half of the V century AD the area and road were occupied by two new complexes built to defend the city, initially from the Vandals and later from the Saracen invasions.

The two buildings are exceptionally well preserved and the walls are over 2 metres high.
The two buildings and the road were covered by various material in a later historical period when, in the second half of the VI century, a community established itself there.

Testimony to the presence of this settlement lies in the discovery of numerous remains such as food, kitchenware, coins from the Vandal era, glass goblets, amphora for wine and a remarkable quantity of oil lamps. The latter were decorated with typical Christian symbols: crosses, fish and birds.

The surface of the site also revealed fragments of the famous "Turris Leopole". The latter was a tower built by the Spanish to defend the coast and, above all, the Marina quarter, which, at the time, was called "Lapola".