Quartu Sant'Elena

Quartu is one of Sardinia’s largest towns with a population of 68,040 inhabitants. Originally it developed as a granary for nearby Cagliari but in recent decades it has grown considerably due to the building of new residential areas, the coastal development and the creation of many new business initiatives.
The natural landscape is extremely varied, including both the mountains and the sea. It is renowned for the famous “Poetto” beach with its long stretch of fine, brilliant white sand. One of the most important wetlands in Europe is the Molentargius lagoon on the western outskirts of the town. It is home to a particularly rich variety of bird-life, which includes the stunningly beautiful pink flamingos.
The area surrounding the town is full of historical and cultural interest. Anyone who comes to see Quartu must pay a visit to the Local History Museum (Museo Etnografico) with the “Il ciclo della Vita” exhibition. It is divided into nine sections displaying various exhibits (clothes, furniture, jewellery, photos, written documents) from various parts of the Island dating back to the second half of the 1900s, which recount the stages in the “circle of life” – birth, adolescence, marriage and death – as well as topics referring to the magical-propitiatory rites in the agricultural and sheep-farming environment and to popular religion with particular reference to iconography.