Archaeology and culture
Archaeological sites in South-Western Sardinia
Nora Archaeological Area
Inhabited since the Nuragic period, the territory of Pula shows numerous traces of its past. The Archaeological Area of Nora is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of local heritage, among the most important archaeological sites in Sardinia.
Theatres, watchtowers, churches and entire towns… The monuments of Pula are today an integral part of a striking natural setting, which contribute to making it unique.
Our Itineraries:
Archaeological Area of Nora
Located on a promontory jutting out into the sea, Nora was among the first Phoenician settlements in Sardinia, founded, according to legend, by the Iberian hero Norax. In the Punic period, Nora became an important administrative, religious and commercial centre, but it is to the subsequent Roman domination that most of the buildings visible today are due: the forum, the theatre, places of worship, the thermal baths, the forum, noble residences and mosaics. The archaeological area can be visited and, during the summer season, it is the evocative setting for numerous concerts, festivals and shows.
Church of Saint Efisio
Near Nora, a small 12th-century gem arises: the church of Sant'Efisio, built, according to tradition, on the site of the saint's martyrdom. The church is the destination of the cherished procession that honours the saint in early May, bringing him here from the church of the same name in Cagliari, where he resides for the rest of the year.
Built from sandstone and limestone blocks on an earlier early medieval sanctuary, the Romanesque chapel, with its simple and austere lines, owes its great charm to its location: a charming place of devotion, just a stone's throw from the sea.
Giovanni Patroni Archaeological Civic Museum
Located in the historic centre of Pula, the Patroni Museum houses important artefacts from the excavations of Nora and the surrounding area. Among the various finds, you can appreciate objects related to daily life and ritual practices, as well as materials from the necropolises of Nora, including the golden lamina with the image of the Medusa, which inspires the Museum's logo. An interesting section is dedicated to underwater discoveries. An expansion of the exhibition is planned, which includes the setting up of a restoration laboratory for the more curious visitors.
Coltellazzo Tower
Built by the Spanish at the end of the 16th century on the promontory of the same name, Torre del Coltellazzo overlooks the Archaeological Area of Nora, probably constructed using materials from the Punic city's ruins.
The tower was part of the defensive network built by the Spanish against Barbary raids, and it was intended to protect inlets and fish farms from assaults. In visual contact with the nearby Towers of Cala d’Ostia, San Macario, and del Diavolo (Sarroch), the tower offers a superb view of the surrounding coast. It has recently been renovated and is open to visitors.
Torre di Cala d’Ostia
Torre di Cala d’Ostia was built during the Savoyard period on the coast of S. Margherita di Pula, near the ruins of the Spanish tower of the same name, which accidentally exploded in 1773.
Built at the mouth of the Rio Pedras de Fogu, the tower performed a vital defensive function: it was indeed intended to prevent invaders from resupplying with fresh water and making landings on the plain of S. Margherita, from which it would have been easy to reach and attack the town of Pula.
