Nora
A Phoenician and Roman town on a low headland, with part of its streets and baths now under the sea.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Nora occupies a low promontory with sea on three sides and is generally described as one of the oldest towns in Sardinia, founded by Phoenicians and later a Roman municipium. Mosaic floors, a theatre, baths and a street grid survive; because the land has subsided relative to the sea, part of the town is now submerged in shallow water and visible from the shore or by snorkelling. The Nora Stone, found here in the eighth century BC layer, carries the earliest known written occurrence of the name Sardinia, and is held in the Cagliari museum. A small church of Sant'Efisio stands beside the site.
What you actually see
- The submerged quarter - streets and structures in shallow water offshore.
- The mosaic floors - Roman house and bath pavements in situ.
- The theatre - a small Roman theatre still used for summer performances.
- The Nora Stone story - the earliest known written form of Sardinia.
When to go
April to June and September to October; the site is open and shadeless. Summer performances use the theatre. The adjacent beach is busy in August.
Honest expectations
The submerged part is only visible in calm clear water and needs snorkelling. There is no shade. The Nora Stone itself is in Cagliari.
Nearby
Chia lies west; Cagliari is northeast.
What to pack for Nora
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.