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Castelsardo
  • Most beautiful villages in Italy
Original photo1 of 9 photos

Photo: Gianni Careddu, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Historic village

Castelsardo

Italian comune

Castelsardo (SS), Sardinia

Directions

At a glance

Elevation
114 m above sea level
Area
43,340,000 m²
Coordinates
40°54′52″ N, 8°42′46″ E

History and description

Castelsardo (Sardinian: Casteddu Sardu, Sassarese: Castheddu Sardhu; Castellanese: Calteddu) is a town and comune in the northwest of the island in the Metropolitan City of Sassari in the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy, at the east end of the Gulf of Asinara. It has 5,624 inhabitants.

It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

History

Archaeological excavations have revealed human presence in the Castelsardo area since pre-Nuragic and Nuragic times, as well as during the Roman period in Sardinia.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the monastery of Nostra Signora di Tergu was founded nearby, but the current town originates from the castle built here, in 1102 (or 1270), by the Doria family of Genoa. The castle and the village, which gradually formed around it, were the seat of the Doria's fiefdom on the island called Castel Doria or Castelgenovese. It was conquered by the Aragonese in the 15th century (1448) and renamed Castillo Aragonés (Castel Aragonese). Except for the Maddalena archipelago, it was the last city on the island to join the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Castelsardo was part of the Savoy's Kingdom of Sardinia, obtained by the will of King Charles Emmanuel III.

Main sights

Elephant's Rock, one of the symbols of Sardinia. You can enter Elephant's Rock without any authorization, and the entry is free.

Megalithic walls, from pre-Nuragic times

Nuraghe Paddaju and others

Doria Castle (1102), the height of the castle is 114 meters.

Co-Cathedral, dedicated to St. Antony the Abbot. The crypts house the Museum "Maestro di Castelsardo";

The Palace of Eleonora of Arborea, a very famous person in Sardinia.

Keep reading on Wikipedia

Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Castelsardo».

Photos

Getting there

Port8.9 km

Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.

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Things to see in Castelsardo: 11 historic places

Frequently asked questions

Where is Castelsardo?

Castelsardo is in Castelsardo, in the province of Sassari (Sardinia), Italy. GPS coordinates: 40.91444, 8.71278.

What else is there to see near Castelsardo?

Nearby you’ll find: Castello dei Doria (100 m away), Torre di Frigiano (800 m away), Elephant Rock (4 km away).

Sources and licences

Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).

Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.

Credits for the 9 photos
  1. Castelsardo, panorama (01) — Gianni Careddu, CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. 1102 wurde Castelsardo durch die genuesische Familie Doria gegründet. 07 — Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
  3. 2019 10 11 Castelsardo 36IMG 155004 — Dr Korom, CC BY-SA 2.0
  4. Burg Castelsardo 01 — Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
  5. Castelsardo - Chiesa della Sacra Famiglia - 2025-09-18 23-18-32 001 — Ottantafame, CC BY-SA 4.0
  6. Castelsardo - Chiesa della Sacra Famiglia - — Francesca_Rivetti, CC BY-SA 4.0
  7. Castelsardo - Chiesa delle Anime del Purgatorio - 2025-09-02 08-13-15 001 — Ottantafame, CC BY-SA 4.0
  8. Castelsardo - Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie - 2023-09-27 22-22-12 001 — Lusirigu, CC BY-SA 4.0
  9. Castelsardo - Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie - 2023-09-27 22-27-32 001 — Lusirigu, CC BY-SA 4.0

Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences

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