Castelsardo

Population: 5,317
Altitude: 114 m. above sea level

The town of Castelsardo perches on a rock mass, overlooking the Gulf of Asinara.

It is a picturesque agricultural and pastoral town, which was founded in the XII century as a fortress, which the Doria family from Genoa used for defence purposes.
It was originally called "Castelgenovese", but the name was changed to "Castellaragonese" when the town fell under Spanish dominion. In 1727, with the arrival of the Piedmontese, the town was given the name it is known by today.

In the last few years it has become a popular tourist resort and offers all the necessary services and facilities, as well as many fascinating things to see, such as the traditional artisan baskets made from palm leaves.

The town is dominated by the impressive defence walls, which were built by the Doria family and have recently been restored. Visitors can enjoy a walk round these ancient walls and admire the fortress from close up, with the extraordinary panorama of the surrounding sea providing a striking backdrop.

• The Cathedral of S. Antonio Abate. This Cathedral is distinct because of its beautiful bell tower in Aragonese style. Inside there are some magnificent wooden pieces of furniture and the remains of a retable attributed to the anonymous Maestro of Castelsardo who lived between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
  
  
• The Church of S. Maria. The church stands in the high part of the town and reveals a blend of architectural traits from both medieval times and the 1600s. The famous Easter Monday procession starts and ends here. The procession is made up of religious groups in white tunics, who walk through the streets of the town singing ancient songs and chants.
  
  
• Roccia dell'Elefante. The Elephant Rock lies 5 km to the south east of the town along the SS 134 road to Sedini. It is a characteristic mass of lava which was dug out at the base by the ancient Sardinian peoples to make tombs.