History

Located on the South Coast of Sardinia about 30 Km from Cagliari, the capital city, in the gulf of Angels. This area was the site of  the Pheonecian fishing town of Nora which is thought to be the first town ever founded in Sardinia. In the year 238AD Nora was under Roman domination and was the seat of of the local governor. Between the second and third centuries Nora went through a period of  development in the second and third centuries and appears to have been abandoned in the 4th century The ruins of the town can still be visitited at the open-air museum.

Beaches

Along the highway 125, we find the long beach of Santa Margherita di Pula, a long coastline which reaches back into a beautiful dense pine forest. The beach at Santa margherita was voted in the top 20 beaches in the world by Forbes.The beach  is accessed by several entrances each with their own names the first is Cala Verde, Then Stella Marina, Forte Village, Cistos, La Pineda, Perla Marina and Riva dei Pini.

Buildings of Interest

The most important building in the area is undoubtedly the Villa Santa Maria, built in 1838. The Nora area is rich in archaeological finds, ancient buildings and remains of Roman baths. There is also the theater, which dates from the second half of the second century AD and is still used for open air concerts in the summer

Then there are shrines: a Roman temple, the High Place of Tanit and the temple of Eshmun-Aesculapius. At nearby Pula, on the beach at Nora you will find one of the oldest churches Sardinia, Sant’Efisio, and Coltellazzo tower, built in 1595. North of Pula are the industrial area of Sarroch and, not far, the nuraghe of Domu’e S’Orcu. Towards Cagliari you can visit the villa of Orri, former residence of the Savoys.