Classical Sardinia

Fly from London to Cagliari airport and transfer to our hotel or if making your own travel arrangements meet us at the hotel. Hotel in Orosei region for 2 nights. Due to the late arrival at the hotel, there will be no dinner this evening.

We start our tour at the excellent museum of Nuoro which will set the area’s discoveries in context. The highlight of the collection are the fabulous collection of bronzes discovered at sites in the region. Continuing into the distinctive limestone Supramonte region we use 4x4 vehicles to ascend to the remarkable 3500-year-old late Neolithic/Nuraghic complex of Sa Sedda’e Sos Carros, including an elaborate enclosed fountain surrounded with bench seating, thought to be a ritual building. (B, D)

Today we start at the Giants’ tomb of S'Ena'e Thomes, built between 1500 and 1200 BC, where we admire the monolithic dolmen structure archetypal of prehistoric Sardinian funerary architecture. Our journey continues to the Nuraghic village of Romanzesu-Poddi Arvu: stretching over 7 hectares in a cork wood this site includes temple buildings, a “sacred well”, small proto-amphitheatre and mysterious spiral building. We move to Su Tempiesu where a short walk through woodland takes us to the unique 3500-year-old sacred spring where we admire the exquisite opus isodomum stonework technique. Continuing westward we stop at the hypogeal necropolis known as ‘domus de Janas’ (“fairies houses”) at Sas Concas before continuing to the beautiful coastal city of Alghero. Hotel in Alghero – 3 nights. (B,D)

We visit the extraordinary prehistoric pyramid of Monte d’Accoddi - the only one of its kind in Europe – and not unlike a compact Mesopotamian ziggurat. Constructed by the pre-Nuraghic Ozieri culture after 4000 BC it is thought to have been a major animal sacrifice site. Continuing to Santu-Antine we admire a well-preserved Nuraghic tower - one of the best examples of its kind – and at Nuraghe Palmavera view one of the most important sites in Mediterranean megalithic culture. Return to Alghero where there is time to wander and explore this lovely town. (B, D)

Embarking again into the rugged Sardinian landscape we visit a trio of fantastic sites in the archaeologically rich Marghine region which further demonstrate the ingenuity and imagination of the Nuraghic peoples. At Losa we admire the Nuraghic beehive shaped tholos tomb and at the prehistoric complex of Tamuli we marvel at the famous bi-occular (or double breasted) standing “betyls”, elongated anthropomorphic cones. We return to Alghero via the extraordinary and mysterious inverse pyramid-shaped Nuraghi “sacred well” of Santa Cristina. (B, D)

A morning spent exploring the Punic and later Roman settlement of Tharros on the scenic Sinis peninsula. Like Nora the city passed from Carthaginian to Roman hands and the presence of a Tophet deepens the mystery surrounding these cultic sites. We also visit the nearby Cabras museum to see the remainder of the stone Giants of Mont'e Prama possibly dating from as early as the 11th century BC. Apart from the mesmerising stylised form of these giant statues of warriors, archers and boxers these may be the earliest known anthropomorphic statues in the Mediterranean outside of Egypt. Continue to Cagliari. Hotel in Cagliari or area for 3 nights. (B, D)

Visit the extensive Punic-Roman city of Nora, built on an isthmus in a truly stunning maritime setting. With its origins as a Nuraghic settlement the city grew into a Phoenician then Carthaginian emporium before its conquest by the Romans in 238 BC. Here we admire several fine mosaics, thermal baths and a Roman theatre. Return to Cagliari to visit to the National Archaeological Museum with its extensive collection of prehistoric objects including fine bronze Nuraghic statuettes. (B, D)

Drive west to the Sant’antioco archipelago via an isthmus and visit the ancient Phoenician-Punic “Tophet” site of Sulcis, then a second “Tophet” cemetery at Monte-Sirai. At these sites we consider a disturbing and controversial question: did Punic civilisation practice infanticide? Drive to Cagliari Airport where the tour ends unless you are returning with us to London. (B)