Underground Cagliari Tour: Explore Crypts, Tunnels & Ancient Ruins
Beneath Cagliari’s sunlit streets lies a secret world of ancient quarries, wartime shelters, and sacred crypts. Join our underground Cagliari tour to explore these marvels, carved into the limestone bedrock that shaped the city’s history. After years of restoration, these spaces now welcome curious travelers and locals alike.
Tour Highlights
- WWII Gallery-Shelter: Walk through the 120-meter tunnel beneath the Salesian Institute, where locals hid during 1943 bombings. Today, candlelight still flickers on its walls, just as it did for terrified families
- Crypt of Santa Restituta: Step into this natural cave, steeped in legends of early Christian martyrs and pagan rituals
- Sant’Eulalia Archaeological Area: Discover layers of history in Marina district—from Punic-era artifacts to 19th-century ruins
Why Choose This Underground Cagliari Tour?
- Active Exploration: You’ll navigate narrow tunnels, touch ancient limestone walls, and see artifacts hidden for centuries
- Expert Guides: Historians bring the past to life with tales of Roman engineers, wartime survivors, and medieval monks
- Small Groups: Limited guests for an immersive, respectful experience
More Than Just Ruins: Stories Carved in Stone
As you descend into Cagliari’s underworld, imagine Phoenician quarry workers chiselling limestone to build the city above. Picture WWII families huddling in candlelit tunnels as bombs shook the earth. After exploring the crypts, emerge into Marina district’s lively streets—a stark contrast to the silent history below.
Did you know? The limestone used to construct Cagliari’s iconic landmarks came from these very quarries. Today, their echoes tell stories of resilience and reinvention.
Practical Details
- Duration: 2 hours (Check availability to see the starting times)
- Meeting Point: Via Sant’Ignazio da Laconi
- Bring: Sturdy shoes and a light jacket for cool underground spaces
- Note: The tour may include wine tasting and snacks with an additional 10€, must confirm at the time of booking
- Schedule: Nov to March: 10am & 3pm, May to Sept: 10am & 4pm, April: 10am & 3:30pm, October: 10am & 3:30pm
Trip Info
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English, Italian
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Reserve now with a small amount and pay directly on the trip day
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Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Via Sant'Ignazio da Laconi, 64
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Guided Tour
Overview
Beneath Cagliari’s limestone foundation lies a hidden world of quarries, cisterns, crypts, and tunnels, now restored and open to visitors.
Strolling through Stampace and Marina, we’ll explore the Salesian Institute’s Gallery-Shelter, a 120-meter tunnelthat served as a WWII bomb shelter, still lit by candlelight. Next, we’ll visit the Crypt of Santa Restituta, a natural cave rich in legend, before uncovering the Sant’Eulalia Archaeological Area, where underground ruins span from the Punic era to the 19th century.
It is not entirely underground—it includes visits to three different sites with some outdoor passages.
Trip Highlights
- See the city from a different perspective with a local guide
- Enjoy the atmosphere of a private candle-lit tunnel from WWII
- Learn the interesting history of the crypt of Santa Restituta
- Explore the underground Roman ruins under the Saint Eulalia church
- Walk along the old districts of Stampace and Marina
