Sant'Antioco
An island linked by an isthmus, with catacombs, a Phoenician necropolis and a museum devoted to byssus, the sea silk spun from the noble pen shell.
The story
The art of byssus, «sea silk», has survived here: a golden yarn made from the filaments with which Pinna nobilis, a large Mediterranean shell, anchors itself to the seabed. It was already a precious fabric in antiquity. Today Pinna nobilis is a protected species, decimated by a die-off that began in 2016, and collecting it is forbidden: the knowledge survives in a few workshops on the island.
Why go
Catacombs under the basilica, a Phoenician necropolis and the archaeological museum: Sant'Antioco is the Phoenicians' Sulky and one of the oldest towns in Italy.
In the itineraries
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Weather forecast
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind, wave height and sea temperature.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
Getting there
- By train. The nearest station is Carbonia Serbariu station, 12.1 km away. Alternatively: Barbusi station, 17.1 km away. From the station you need a bus, a taxi or a car.
- By air. The nearest airport is Cagliari-Elmas Airport (CAG), about 56 km away.
- Parking. There are many signposted car parks within a kilometre; the nearest (Piazzale Sandro Pertini) is 100 m away, paid.
- ZTL. Many Italian historic centres are limited traffic zones (ZTL) monitored by cameras: if you arrive by car, leave it outside the centre and check opening times and permits on the town council's website (your hotel may be able to register your plate).
Stations, ports, airports and car parks from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); distances as the crow flies. Timetables and connections change: check them before you travel.
Climate month by month
The most pleasant months for weather are from April to July and from September to November, with average highs between 18 and 29 °C. The wettest month is November (about 131 mm), the driest July. The sea is above 22 °C from June to October, peaking at 26 °C in August.
| Month | Temperature | High / low | Rain mm | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | from 10 to 15 °C | 15° 10° | 46 | 15° |
| Feb | from 10 to 15 °C | 15° 10° | 39 | 14° |
| Mar | from 11 to 16 °C | 16° 11° | 57 | 15° |
| Apr | from 12 to 19 °C | 19° 12° | 38 | 16° |
| May | from 15 to 21 °C | 21° 15° | 50 | 18° |
| Jun | from 20 to 26 °C | 26° 20° | 30 | 22° |
| Jul | from 23 to 29 °C | 29° 23° | 2 | 25° |
| Aug | from 23 to 30 °C | 30° 23° | 23 | 26° |
| Sep | from 21 to 27 °C | 27° 21° | 43 | 25° |
| Oct | from 18 to 24 °C | 24° 18° | 68 | 22° |
| Nov | from 15 to 20 °C | 20° 15° | 131 | 20° |
| Dec | from 11 to 16 °C | 16° 11° | 86 | 17° |
Averages for 2015–2024, estimated for an altitude of 9 m. Air: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), corrected for the altitude of the place; rain: average monthly total; sea: surface temperature from NOAA OISST. These are indicative values: the weather on any given day can be very different, so always check the forecast before you go.