Cagliari: Nora Archaeological Site Private Experience from Chia

Excursion through the ancient Roman ruins of the first Sardinian Phoenician City: Nora. The theatre, the thermal baths, the patrician villas, the marketplace and the tower recall a glorious and never forgotten past. Among the extraordinary streets, it will be possible to discover the urban and artistic techniques used by the ancient Mediterranean population.

History is alive and in abundance on the island of Sardinia. This tour is your opportunity to visit some of what remains of a civilization that is approximately 3,000 years old! Enjoy a guided visit tour to Nora and the hidden gem town of Pula.

Departing from Chia, your trip to Nora will be about 20 minutes.

It was the first Phoenician city in Sardinia (8th century BC), an essential commercial crossword and port of excellent location, in the isthmus of Capo Pula, from which it was possible to set sail in any weather. Nora, which developed fully in the 4th century BC under the Punic rule, was conquered by the Romans in 238 BC and became a municipium in the 1st century AC. During the two following centuries, it lived its maximum splendor: urban growth and eight thousand inhabitants, in addition to being caput viae, the starting point of all of the roads on the islands. Of this flourishing city, fascinating remains can be seen at the archaeological park of Pula, a handful of minutes from the tourist center, and findings exhibited at Patroni Museum. Go snorkeling and admire Roman roads and remains in the bottom of the isthmus, at Punta del Coltellazzo, dominated by a 16th-century tower.
Roman edifications covered almost all evidence of Phoenician-Punic times. Excavations began in 1889, when a coastal storm revealed a Phoenician-Punic cemetery (Tophet), bringing to light the remains of the Temple of Tanit, a Carthaginian goddess, and the Nora Stone, in the Museo Archeologico di Cagliari (National Archaeological Museum). On the stele, the most ancient document of the Western world, the name Shrdn, Sardinia, appears for the first time. The Tophet sits near the Little Romanesque church, the place of martyrdom of the warrior saint remembered every year during Sagra di Sant’Efisio, of whom the Pula population is particularly devout.
At the entrance to the park, you will find remains of the thermal baths that made Nora famous. Take the cobbled streets to enter the heart of the ancient city: Piazza del Foro. Nearby there is a temple with a six-column entrance hall (pronao), while to the north, you will find the necropolis and the aqueduct. On the coast, you will come across a nobleman’s house, the house of tetrastyle atrium from the 3rd century AC, with a four-column portico and rooms lined with mosaics (do not miss “Nereid on a marine centaur”). Keep walking, and you will see its main attraction, the amphitheater: lined initially with marble, it had twenty terraces and could seat one thousand people. Today it hosts the La Notte dei Poeti festival. To the south, Aesculapius’s sanctuary, with a mosaic-lined terraced from the 4th century: perhaps the set of the incubation rituals, to ask the gods for remedies. It is the last most fabulous building: Nora began to decline in the 5th century.

You will also visit the nearby town of Pula. A hidden gem in the southern Sardinia, with charming alleys and patrician homes. You can browse your perfect souvenir here; there are many craft shops, and if times allow, maybe you can enter one of their traditional restaurants. Here and throughout this incredible experience, your guide will strive to make your time as personalized as possible.

Your local guide will be keen to make the tour as personal as possible. He will assist you with his expertise and recall amusing anecdotes for you before driving you back to your hotel.

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please be aware that beyond the time limit of the cancellation policy, it is not possible to amend or cancel bookings in any way, including health conditions.
• The excursion will not be cancelled and refunds will not be issued because it rains

• Private Tour
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  Private excursion through the ancient ruins of Nora. The theatre, the thermal baths, the patrician villas, the marketplace and the tower recall a glorious and never forgotten.
  Pickup included

• Tickets
• Transport by air-conditioned minivan with wifi free service, due to availability, please be aware that vehicles used in the excursions may be different from description and vary at the management’s discretion.
• Skip the line
• Pick-up/drop-off only for Domus de Maria and Chia area
• Private Tour

Trending Sardinia Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out

• Dress code is smart casual
• Ticket and water include
• Russian and german guide there’s a surcharge
• Free service pickup/dropoff only for Domus de Maria and Chia area

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by Bitan Daily Tours.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Rome.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 4.5 Stars based on 13 valid reviews on TRIPADVISOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 5 Travelers is accepted for booking.