A beautiful site. Very interesting history. Our driver and guide, Ricardo was very knowledgeable and solicited. Would highly recommend!
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Tickets
- Bottled water
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan with wifi free service, due to availability, please be aware that vehicles used in the excursions may be different from description and vary at the management's discretion.
- Private Tour
- Skip the line
- Pick-up/drop-off only for Domus de Maria and Chia area
Excludes
- Gratuities
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Departing from Chia, your trip to Nora will be about 20 minutes.
It was the first Phoenician city in Sardinia (8th century BC), an essential commercial crossword and port of excellent location, in the isthmus of Capo Pula, from which it was possible to set sail in any weather. Nora, which developed fully in the 4th century BC under the Punic rule, was conquered by the Romans in 238 BC and became a municipium in the 1st century AC. During the two following centuries, it lived its maximum splendor: urban growth and eight thousand inhabitants, in addition to being caput viae, the starting point of all of the roads on the islands. Of this flourishing city, fascinating remains can be seen at the archaeological park of Pula, a handful of minutes from the tourist center, and findings exhibited at Patroni Museum. Go snorkeling and admire Roman roads and remains in the bottom of the isthmus, at Punta del Coltellazzo, dominated by a 16th-century tower. Roman edifications covered almost all evidence of Phoenician-Punic times. Excavations began in 1889, when a coastal storm revealed a Phoenician-Punic cemetery (Tophet), bringing to light the remains of the Temple of Tanit, a Carthaginian goddess, and the Nora Stone, in the Museo Archeologico di Cagliari (National Archaeological Museum). On the stele, the most ancient document of the Western world, the name Shrdn, Sardinia, appears for the first time. The Tophet sits near the Little Romanesque church, the place of martyrdom of the warrior saint remembered every year during Sagra di Sant’Efisio, of whom the Pula population is particularly devout. At the entrance to the park, you will find remains of the thermal baths that made Nora famous. Take the cobbled streets to enter the heart of the ancient city: Piazza del Foro. Nearby there is a temple with a six-column entrance hall (pronao), while to the north, you will find the necropolis and the aqueduct. On the coast, you will come across a nobleman’s house, the house of tetrastyle atrium from the 3rd century AC, with a four-column portico and rooms lined with mosaics (do not miss “Nereid on a marine centaur”). Keep walking, and you will see its main attraction, the amphitheater: lined initially with marble, it had twenty terraces and could seat one thousand people. Today it hosts the La Notte dei Poeti festival. To the south, Aesculapius’s sanctuary, with a mosaic-lined terraced from the 4th century: perhaps the set of the incubation rituals, to ask the gods for remedies. It is the last most fabulous building: Nora began to decline in the 5th century.
You will also visit the nearby town of Pula. A hidden gem in the southern Sardinia, with charming alleys and patrician homes. You can browse your perfect souvenir here; there are many craft shops, and if times allow, maybe you can enter one of their traditional restaurants. Here and throughout this incredible experience, your guide will strive to make your time as personalized as possible.
Your local guide will be keen to make the tour as personal as possible. He will assist you with his expertise and recall amusing anecdotes for you before driving you back to your hotel.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
This site is far larger than we expected and well worth any amateur historian's time. Andre was our guide and he was terrific . . . and had agreat sense of humor. Parking is a challenge because for much of the year the small lot near the sites competes with beach-goers. We had to walk from a more distant lot.
Excellent & Magical! A dream destination come true and thanks to Junior (& Bitan tours) Nora exceeded all expectations! We are beyond grateful to have experienced such a beautiful, significant and historical site with Junior. He is such a a great representative of Sardegna and all of the rich history. His wealth of knowledge is un paralleled. Bitan tours is outstanding! If you are fortunate enough to be in Sardinia I highly, highly recommend this company & this tour ps many thanks to Junior, Valeria, Ana, Matteo & Dolce & Gabbana for sharing your beautiful country, Grazi! Gratzi!
Very interesting visit to a unique site, in a spectacular location. To do absolutely with the guide. We had Andrea and he was great.
Underground crypts/caves were very nice! I spontaneously booked a guided tour on site. Definitely worth seeing
the site is very interesting for the various aspects that can be detected if you are lucky enough to visit it with a well-prepared guide, in our case, if I remember correctly was called Andrea, the visit turns into a real immersion in the life of the city, one of the places to visit if you travel in Sardinia
Very little information on site. Guide in Italian integrated in groups. Bar cose and QR cose doesn't work. It's more worth the beach
Archaeological site to visit absolutely. Unfortunately directions to get there, poor and little visible. Our guide (Andrea) very prepared, kind and helpful. Site to enhance and advertise more.
Visiting this archaeological site should become a must for those who take a holiday in southern Sardinia. However, you will not have to give up Andrea's guide who makes you relive the history of the place with competence, professionalism and sympathy The only flaw are the directions to get there, almost non-existent!
Absolutely worth visiting. With the guide Andrea, very good at making you go back to those times and immerse yourself in history.
A cultural visit to do absolutely between one beach and another. I recommend a guided tour in order to better appreciate what you will see. The guide was very comprehensive and nice, the site is definitely worth a visit
Really congratulations to the talented Reparata who managed to transport us thanks to her professionalism and ability to involve in a glorious past for this beautiful city rediscovered. Beautiful whole site but theater and mosaics of particular importance. With the Fai discount we squeezed 13 euros in two. To be visited in the evening or in cool weather, if possible.
It is a magical place to visit with the whole family. Andrea is an excellent guide and conveys all the passion of the locals, ask for him!!
During our holiday in Sardinia we visited the archaeological site of Nora. Fascinating experience between nature and history made even more enjoyable by the expertise of our guide ( Valeria ) who, with professionalism, illustrated the beauties and curiosities of this place. Cristina and Alberto
During a holiday in Chia, we spent a morning at the archaeological site of Nora. The emotions experienced can be summed up in one word: enchantment.... We took advantage of a guided tour , very useful to better understand the typicality of the places and the complexity of the historical events that characterize the site. Andrea, our guide, was good and fun making the walk even more beautiful. To all those who will attend this beautiful area of Sardinia, I highly recommend dedicating half a day of your holiday to Nora. It 'a magical place suspended in time and surrounded by an enchanting crystal clear sea.
The remains are impressive, from thermal baths, water circuits, architecture composed by different civilizations, cultures, and religions that have given their footprints over thousands of years. Some mosaics testify to the North African presence in some parts of the village. All this facing a turquoise sea. Little or almost no more ruin still standing. Beware that visits in French are rare and we have on a guide that commented in German and English.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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