Sassari’s principal cathedral dazzles with its 18th-century baroque facade, a giddy free-for-all of statues, reliefs, friezes and busts. It's all a front, though, because inside the cathedral reverts to its true Gothic character. The facade masks a late-15th-century Catalan Gothic body, which was itself built over an earlier Romanesque church. Little remains of this, except for the 13th-century bell tower.

Of note inside are the frescoes in the left transept and the Gothic fresco in the second chapel on the right. Also in this chapel is a fine painting of the Martirio dei SS Cosma e Damiano (Martyrdom of Saints Cosimo and Damien), attributed to the 17th-century artist Carlo Maratta.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sassari attractions

1. Palazzo Ducale

0.07 MILES

Seat of Sassari city council and the Museo della Città. The museum is divided into two sections: the Stanze del Duca, three rooms illustrating the palace…

2. Pinacoteca Nazionale di Sassari

0.07 MILES

Housed in a 16th-century Jesuit college, Sassari's municipal art collection boasts more than 400 paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Of…

3. Casa di Re Enzo

0.12 MILES

With its arched portico and delicately crafted mullioned windows, this 15th-century building, now home to a clothes shop, is a rare example of Catalan…

4. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II

0.12 MILES

The main drag through the centro storico, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II follows the path of the ancient Roman road from Porto Torres to Cagliari. Little…

5. Museo della Città

0.13 MILES

This museum dedicated to Sassari's history is spread over three sites. Its main seat is Palazzo di Città, where exhibits illustrate the city's urban…

6. Palazzo di Città

0.13 MILES

The principal seat of the Museo della Città, with exhibits illustrating the city's development, festivals and traditions

7. Casa Farris

0.13 MILES

Casa Farris is a 15th-century townhouse now occupied by a women's clothing shop.

8. Piazza Tola

0.19 MILES

Just north of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Piazza Tola was medieval Sassari's main square where condemned heretics were burned at the stake. Overlooking…

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