The Basilica and Necroplis of San Saturnino
During the reconstruction of this ancient church the multiple layers of burials that it held was revealed to archaeologists.
This basilica in Cagliari is one of the oldest churches in Sardinia. It provides a striking example of Paleo-Christian architecture.
The architecture is based the Greek-cross pattern used in many churches renowned to be the burial places of martyrs. The structure was built in the 5th century on the site where Saint Saturninus, an important local martyr (and the patron saint of the Cagliari) was buried. According to legend, Saturninus was beheaded in 304CE during emperor Diocletian’s anti-Christian pogroms.
In the 6th century San Fulgenzio da Ruspe, a bishop in exile from Tunisia, built a monastery here. In 1098 this was rebuilt into the current Provençal-Romanesque style church by a group of Benedictine monks from Marseille. It was consecrated in 1119. Since then the basilica has undergone various refurbishments, most notably after it was stripped in 1662 to provide building material for the magnificent Cattedrale di Santa Maria and, more recently, after it sustained severe bomb damage in WWII. It remained closed for restoration until 1996 and it was re-consecrated in 2004
The church is within an area that was part of a large necropolis that was used over a time period ranging from the late-Punic era to the Christian age. Archaeological excavation is still underway. The burial area close to the church was home to various types of tomb including sarcophagi, mausoleums, cappuccina tombs (lined and covered with clay tiles), mound tombs and ground tombs. The necropolis was later used again by the Cagliari Christian community and thus houses both pagan and Christian tombs. Some epigraphs found in the San Saturnino site indicate the presence of tombs for locally important religious figures, from around the 5th-6th centuries.
The church is a great example of a sympathetic restoration of a war damaged monument. It is also a great example of the reuse of holy places from earlier times.
Know Before You Go
Street parking here requires the use of a parking meter which requires you to enter the registration number of your car. In October 2024 the meter on the road to the north of the basilica (Via San Lucifero) was almost impossible to use as the LCD screen was unreadable. There is another on the parallel road to the south of the basilica (walk uphill on Via Logudoro).
Across the road at the downhill end of Via Logudoro (just behind the new tram stop) is a burger bar/sandwich shop called Non Solo Hamburger. The guy who runs it is very helpful and the menu is quite imaginative.
Although called a "basilica" it is not clear that this church holds that official status within the Catholic Church.
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