About 4km south of the Terme di Sardara, a dirt road leads to the empty walls of the Castello Monreale. Built in the 13th century by the governor of Arborea, the castle was used as a temporary refuge by troops defeated at the Battle of Sanluri and later, in 1478, as a billet for Aragonese troops.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
12.5 MILES
In the heart of the voluptuous green countryside near Barumini, the Nuraghe Su Nuraxi is Sardinia’s sole World Heritage Site and the island’s most visited…
26.93 MILES
The choppy blue waters of the Golfo di Oristano provide a magnificent backdrop to the ruins of ancient Tharros. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th…
13.2 MILES
Rising above the rolling green landscape, La Giara di Gesturi is a high basalt plateau famous for its wild horses and uncontaminated natural beauty. The…
27.79 MILES
A marvel of early-20th-century engineering, Porto Flavia is a port dug into cliffs 50m above the sea. Consisting of two 600m tunnels and an ingenious…
27.38 MILES
A sensational sandy beach wedged into a natural inlet between craggy rocks, Cala Domestica is a heavenly spot. Its shallow blue waters are ideal for…
21.49 MILES
An impressive Roman temple set in bucolic scenery 9km south of Fluminimaggiore, the Tempio di Antas has stood in isolation since the 3rd century AD. Built…
19.2 MILES
This magnificent beach is a picture of unspoilt beauty. A broad band of golden sand, it's sandwiched between a big-wave sea and a vast expanse of dunes…
23.69 MILES
Oristano’s elegant outdoor salon sits at the southern end of pedestrianised Corso Umberto I. An impressive, rectangular space, it comes to life on summer…
Nearby Southwestern Sardinia attractions
1.52 MILES
A few hundred metres from Sardara's museum, the Gothic Chiesa di Sant'Anastasia sits in the midst of what was once a much larger nuraghic temple. An…
1.57 MILES
The Chiesa di San Gregorio makes a fetching town landmark. Built between 1300 and 1325 in a mixed Romanesque Gothic style, it boasts a sombre, soaring…
3. Civico Museo Archeologico Villa Abbas
1.58 MILES
At the top of the historic centre, this modest museum showcases a collection of finds from local archaeological sites. Among the finest pieces are two 8th…
4. Complesso Nuragico di Genna Maria
3.73 MILES
This nuraghic complex, signposted as the Parco Archeologico, is set on a panoramic wooded hilltop about 1km out of the village on the road to Collinas…
4.28 MILES
Housed in a yellow 19th-century palazzo in the village centre, the Museo Archeologico provides a good overview of the area's prehistoric past with finds…
5.2 MILES
To the northeast of Villanovaforru near Lunamatrona, this excellent museum showcases the area's flora and fauna, as well as illustrating its ancient…
7. Museo Etnografico Cappuccini
5.73 MILES
Housed in a 17th-century monastery, this small museum displays a varied collection of artefacts and artworks relating to the activities of Sardinia's…
5.8 MILES
Just off Via Carlo Felice, the main road through town, Sanluri's 14th-century castle houses the Museo Risorgimentale Duca d'Aosta and its eclectic…