Santa Margherita di Pula in brief – tourist information and more

To the town of Pula in the south of Sardinia belongs the municipality of Santa Margherita di Pula, known for its long and child-friendly sandy beaches. Vacationers will find many beach hotels in this region, the most famous is certainly the Forte Village resort, and comfortable self-catering holiday accommodations.

Ancient city of Nora
Very close to Pula, in a spectacular position on a promontory right by the sea, are the remains of the ancient city of Nora, probably built in the 8th century BC. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 3rd century BC and later colonized by the Romans. The extensive excavations in Nora, which continue today, began in 1952 and now show a part of the city that must have been significantly larger. In the adjacent lagoon of Nora, you can admire sunken remains on guided dives.

Of the Phoenician-Punic influence itself is little to recognize, most of the remains, such as the thermal baths, the streets and some houses are Roman and come from the 1st and 2nd Century AD. An amphitheater, Roman, Phoenician and Punic temples, remains of thermal spas, houses and streets and some well-preserved mosaics invite you to stroll through the ruins. The fortification tower towering over the area and located at the top of the headland was built by the Spaniards in 1595.

In Pula there is the small archaeological museum “Giovanni Patroni”, where some finds such as plates, water and amphoras from Nora are shown (most of the finds are exhibited in the archaeological museum in Cagliari). Anyone who has paid admission to Nora can visit the museum on the same day free of charge upon presentation of the admission ticket. A little tip: Tasteful souvenirs (bronze figurines, ceramic and silver jewelery, small bowls, cups and T-shirts) can be bought in the anteroom at quite moderate prices. At the same time there is a large selection of books about Sardinia – partly in English.

Lagoon of Nora
Close to Nora Ruins, Nora’s 55-acre lagoon is home to numerous species of fish and waterfowl. Nearby there are – not only interesting for children, but also for adults – a turtle clinic and some aquariums, which can be visited in the summer months. The lagoon complex can only be visited with guided tours from June to August from 10am to 11.30am and from 5.00 to 6.30 pm. In September, the lagoon is open in the afternoon between 4pm – 5.30pm.