Castelsardo

Castelsardo
Castheddu
Comune
Comune di Castelsardo
Castelsardo

Location of Castelsardo in Italy

Coordinates: 40°55′N 8°43′E / 40.917°N 8.717°E
Country Italy
Region Sardinia
Province Sassari (SS)
Frazioni Lu Bagnu, Multeddu, San Giovanni, Terra Bianca
Government
 • Mayor Angelo Francesco Cuccureddu
Area
 • Total 45.48 km2 (17.56 sq mi)
Elevation 114 m (374 ft)
Population (30 November 2009)
 • Total 5,846
 • Density 130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Demonym Castellanesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 07031
Dialing code 079
Website Official website

Castelsardo (Sassarese: Castheddu, Sardinian: Casteddu Sardu) is a town and comune in Sardinia, Italy, located in the northwest of the island within the Province of Sassari, at the east end of the Gulf of Asinara.

History

Archaeological excavations have showed the human presence in the area of Castelsardo since pre-Nuragic and Nuragic times, as well as during the Roman domination in Sardinia.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the monastery of Nostra Signora di Tergu was founded nearby, but the current town originates from the castle built here, in 1102 (or 1270), by the Doria family of Genoa. The castle and the village which gradually formed round it where the seat of the Doria's fiefdom in the island called Castel Doria or Castelgenovese, until it was conquered by the Aragonese in the 15th century (1448), and named Castillo Aragonés (Castel Aragonese). Except for the Maddalena archipelago, it was the last city in the island to join the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Castelsardo, now part of the Savoy's Kingdom of Sardinia, obtained its current name by will of King Charles Emmanuel III.

Main sights

Gallery

References

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