Centro Storico

Southwestern Sardinia


Piazza Quintino Sella, Iglesias' central square, was laid out in the 19th century in what was at the time a field outside the city walls. Just off the square, a stout tower is all that remains of the Castello Salvaterra, a Pisan fortress built in the 13th century. A stretch of the northwestern perimeter wall survives along Via Campidano.

Dominating the eastern flank of Piazza del Municipio in the heart of the centro storico, the Cattedrale di Santa Chiara has a lovely Pisan-flavoured facade, as does the bell tower, with its checkerboard stonework.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Southwestern Sardinia attractions

1. Castello Salvaterra

0.07 MILES

Just off Piazza Quintino Sella, stairs lead to a stout square tower. This is all that remains of the Castello Salvaterra, the once-mighty Pisan fortress…

2. Piazza Quintino Sella

0.1 MILES

Iglesias' largest square, Piazza Quintino Sella was laid out in the 19th-century in what was at the time a field outside the city walls. It soon became a…

3. Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie

0.1 MILES

Originally constructed at the end of the 13th century, the modest Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie retains little of its original form. About the only…

4. Archivio Storico

0.1 MILES

Records illustrating Iglesias' past are kept in the Archivio Storico, the city's historical archive. Of particular interest is the 1327 Breve di Villa di…

5. Palazzo Vescovile

0.12 MILES

Flanking the Cattedrale di Santa Chiara on Piazza del Municipio is the bishop's 18th-century residence, the Palazzo Vescovile. It is closed to the public.

6. Cattedrale di Santa Chiara

0.13 MILES

Dominating the eastern flank of Piazza del Municipio, the Cattedrale di Santa Chiara has a lovely Pisan-flavoured gold-hued facade and a checkerboard…

7. Municipio

0.15 MILES

Overlooking Piazza del Municipio and the Cattedrale di Santa Chiara is the grand neoclassical Municipio (town hall). The salmon-pink building houses…

8. Chiesa di San Francesco

0.16 MILES

From Piazza del Municipio, Via Pullo leads to the dainty rose-red trachyte of the Chiesa di San Francesco. Built over a 200-year period between the 14th…