The capital of Sardinia, this site was occupied by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Roman, and extensive ruins of the Phoenician city of Nora lie to the southwest of Cagliari.
A 2nd century amphitheatre survives from the Roman era, cut from rock.
The best indication of the town's earlier history is to be found in the Cittadella dei Musei.
Fashioned from the former royal arsenal, it houses several museums including the Museo Nazionale archeologico.
The nuraghic items are the most interesting in the collections, expecially the bronze votive statuettes.
The duomo is a 20th century rehash of a Romanesque building.
Flanking the entrance are two 12th century pulpits originally destined for the cathedral in Pisa.