What to do in Sant'Antioco during your holiday?
If you have decided to spend your holiday in the Sulcis-Iglesiente region, Sant'Antioco is a must-see for its many characteristic points of interest. Patronal festivals, historical museums, re-enactments and archaeological sites for a culturally enriching holiday. This means living your summer to the full

Sant'Antioco is not a destination known to everyone, it is certainly not among the Sardinian nightlife spots, and it is also thanks to this strength that the resort is able to offer its guests a truly authentic holiday, discovering the true essence of Sardinia.

There is no shortage of attractions in Sant'Antioco, they are varied and able to please everyone's taste: let's take a look at the most famous ones.

Feast of St Antiochus, Patron Saint of Sardinia

The patron saint's festival of Sant'Antioco, the oldest event on the island, is celebrated at two distinct times of the year: two weeks after Easter and on 1 August and is one of the most folkloristic and important events in Sardinia.
It usually lasts three days and is dedicated to faith, culture and local traditions. The rite is celebrated in honour of St Antiochus Martyr, Patron Saint of the city and the whole of Sardinia.

"Sa Festa"brings thousands of worshippers and tourists to the city every year to celebrate in an atmosphere that encompasses history, culture, folklore and the tasting of local products. 
Between parades and exhibitions of local products, photo exhibitions, horse parades, Sardinian dances and concerts until the evening, fun is guaranteed.

Ferruccio Barreca Archaeological Museum

If you want to learn about the true history of Sulcis Iglesiente, the MAB - Museo Archeologico Ferruccio Barreca' in Sant'Antioco - which houses a wide range of artefacts from the island of Sant'Antioco, is the place for you

Entering the MAB means stepping back in time, to the beginning of the 8th century B.C., retracing the various stages of the urban settlement known as Sulky or Sulcibut also the first traces of frequentation of the island in prehistoric times. The ancient Phoenician-Punic city of Sulky is brought to life thanks to a reconstructive model and embellished with materials from the excavations. 

Jewellery, amulets, tombs and reproductions of Phoenician and Punic warships.
The route follows a chronological criterion focusing on the three main components of the urban settlement from its origins: the settlement, the necropolis and the tophet.
Do you love history? Your sound is absolutely here.

Find out more on the Ferruccio Barreca Archaeological Museum.

Catacombs of Sant'Antioco

The catacomb complex is an important archaeological site, among the earliest evidence of Christianity in Sardinia, developed from the 3rd century and is the only one in the entire region.

Here, the Christian community of Sulci created a veritable collective cemetery, the various Punic burial chambers were put in communication so that the members of the new Christian community could be buried as close as possible to the tomb of Saint Antiochus. 

Subterranean village

On the western slope of the hill topped by the Savoy Fort of Sant'Antioco is the underground village, the former site of the Punic necropolis of Sulky, excavated between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC. 

The Hypogeum village is one of the most important necropolises in terms of the vastness of the burial facility, its architectural complexity and the archaeological finds discovered in the tombs during excavations. Everything here smacks of history.

During the Middle Ages, the island of Sant'Antioco was attacked by the Arabs who sacked it several times. Part of the inhabitants of Sant'Antioco moved to quieter places like Iglesias, while shepherds and farmers desecrated the Punic tombs and turned them into their homes. 

The transformed tombs took the name of "Is gruttas", the population of the caves "Is gruttaiusu', which was to mark the history of Sant'Antioco until the 1960s. In the 1930s, the poorest part of Sant'Antioco still lived in the caves, some 700 people, as attested by the reports of doctors and engineers kept in the historical archive. In the mid-1990s, a project carried out by the municipal administration allowed the construction of new dwellings and the recovery of the 'grotte' district with the construction of the Villaggio Ipogeo (Hypogeum Village), today one of the most visited sites of the entire historical-archaeological route.

Sulky Jazz Festival

The whole of Sant'Antioco resounds with the notes of the Sulky Jazz Festival, the atmosphere is beautiful.

A travelling music festival, one of the most important and heartfelt in the area, which is usually celebrated in summer in special, evocative locations or on the most beautiful beaches of Sant'Antioco.
Imagine the sun giving way to the moon, the cool sand and the wind, which together with the waves of the sea carries a jazzy melody that makes you feel good.

The perfect sound, the sound of your summer.
Want more info on this year's Sulky Jazz Festival? Download the pdf with the programme.

Find your sound

If your holiday is about the sea and relaxation but not only that, if the idea of cultural enrichment and learning about local traditions appeals to you, if authentic folklore is what you are looking for to bring home an unparalleled experience, there is no need to add more