22 May 2016

Carales (Sardinia-Italy)

Kaart Carales klein

Carales, modern Cagliari in the south of Sardinia, was an old harbour city located on the mouth of the river Mannu on a bay. The city was captured by the Romans in 238 BC and after the first Punic war the Romans built a new settlement east of the old Punic city, the vicus munitus Caralis (i.e. the fortified town of Caralis) mentioned by the Roman poet Varro Atacinus (82-35 BC). The two urban agglomerations merged gradually.

Cagliari obtained the status of munipium, and all its inhabitants were Roman citizens. The Roman historian Florus (74-130 AD) calls it the urbs urbium, or capital of Sardinia: it was the capital of the province Sardinia et Corsica under the Roman Empire.

The harbour was for long a commercial centre in the Mediterranaen and had a connection with Ostia (statio 21 on the Piazzale delle Corporazioni). It had ca. 20.000 inhabitants. It exported salt, grain, tanned leather and metal. In the city you can find a Roman amphitheatre and suburban villas.

See also:
- "Imitatio et Aemulatio", also available in Dutch and Italian.
- A movie by the Comune di Cagliari.

Do you appreciate our work?

Support us with a donation.

Become a member and support us
Recent articles & projects

The resurfaced fleet of Pisa

The resurfaced fleet of Pisa

In 1998, an incredible archaeological heritage was discovered by accident near the Pisa San Rossore railway station....

Read more ...

Leptiminus

Leptiminus

At the site of present-day Lamta on Tunisia's east coast, there was already a port city named Leptis Minor ....

Read more ...

Roman maritime trade law

Roman maritime trade law

 

Roman law is the finest monument that Rome bequeathed to Western Europe....

Read more ...

Sullecthum (Salakta)

Sullecthum (Salakta)

In the Sahel, in the Tunisian province of Madhia, we find by the sea the small town of Salakta....

Read more ...

Colonia Julia ad Turrem Libisonis

Colonia Julia ad Turrem Libisonis

.....probably founded by Julius Ceasar around 46 BC, was located in the north-west of Sardinia.

Read more ...
Latest news

About Roman Ports

Amor and PsycheWe are committed to providing versions of our articles and interviews in several languages, but our first language is English.

Please become a member of the Facebook group, which is our main communication platform. There you can learn about upcoming events and items of interest, post your own photos, or share any stories or general questions you may have.

If you have specific questions about our organisation, questions about financial issues, if you would like to assist in the production of our online magazine, or if you have specific requests or ideas for content, use our contactform below. You can contact us in any language!