Nora
map of Nora with the marked sights
The former harbour town is the oldest and most important archaeological site in Sardinia.
The Phoenicians founded a trading settlement here around the year 1000 BC. The location on the peninsula was well suited, as there were three natural harbours that offered protection for the ships.
In the 9th century BC, Nora developed into a city and became larger than Cagliari at the time.
Hardly anything remains from the Phoenicians. In 240 BC, the Romans took over the port city and completely redesigned it. Nora experienced its heyday during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The city was one of the most important trade centers in the Mediterranean.
From this period also comes the theater (photo), which is still very well preserved and is occasionally used for events.
The Romans also built their typical baths and bathing houses, the remains of which give a good impression of the architecture of these facilities. (photo)
With the decline of the Roman Empire, Nora could soon no longer be sufficiently protected against pirate raids. The city quickly lost significance and was eventually abandoned in the 4th or 5th century. Parts of the peninsula sank into the sea, so today some facilities and ruins are underwater.
Near their baths, the Romans also erected magnificent villas. Their mosaic floors still provide an image of the wealth of the merchants living here at that time.
The Roman city is still well preserved in its entirety. Walking along the paved streets between the walls of the houses, one can easily imagine being in Roman times.
A bit south of the former villas lies the city’s temple district. (photo) Here stand the remains of an Aesculapius temple and a Tanit temple. The latter dates back to the Punic era and is one of the few preserved relics from that time.
Nora fell increasingly into oblivion after the city was abandoned. It was only in the 19th century that Nora was rediscovered after a great storm surge exposed some parts of the city. At that time, the first tentative excavations began.
Nora was not extensively and systematically excavated until the 1950s. In the vicinity of the Spanish Saracen tower, some parts of the city still lie underground.