Piazza Matteotti is the garden square at the western end of Via Roma in Cagliari, framed by the railway station, the ARST bus station, the port and the pale stone Palazzo Civico, the city hall with its two octagonal towers. For many visitors arriving by train, bus or ship it is the first sight of the city. In early 2025 it reopened after a makeover that is part of the redesign of Cagliari's waterfront.
Piazza Matteotti at a glance
- Where: at the western end of Via Roma, facing the port, between the railway station and the Palazzo Civico.
- Created: after the railway station opened in 1879, as a garden laid out in front of it.
- What it is today: Cagliari's main arrival point, with gardens, the Palazzo Civico on one side and the train station, bus terminal and harbour all around.
- Time needed: 10–15 minutes, longer if you stop to look at the Palazzo Civico.
A station garden and a town hall
Cagliari's railway station was inaugurated on 23 July 1879, close to the docks, and a garden was laid out in front of it. That garden became today's square, named after Giacomo Matteotti. Its historic CTM bus shelter is protected as an architectural asset. In 2025 the square was restyled as part of the project for Cagliari's seafront and Via Roma, designed by a team that included Stefano Boeri Architetti, with a new signal-controlled crossing linking it to the ARST bus station.
The square's most striking neighbour is the Palazzo Civico, Cagliari's city hall. A national competition launched in 1896 chose a design by the Turin engineer Crescentino Caselli. The architect Annibale Rigotti, who drew the façades and decoration, later went to court to have his part recognised. King Umberto and Queen Margherita laid the foundation stone on 14 April 1899, and the city council moved in in 1915. On 26 February 1943 an air raid badly damaged the building and destroyed much of its decoration; it was rebuilt between 1946 and 1953.
What to look for
- The Palazzo Civico's main façade on Via Roma: three storeys of limestone, wide low arches divided by pillars and two octagonal towers on top.
- The gate of the Palazzo Civico: through the wrought-iron gate you can glimpse the courtyard and the grand staircase that leads to the council chamber.
- The railway station on the far side of the square: the building from 1879 was raised between the two world wars, when its two large side terraces were removed.
- The historic CTM shelter: the old bus shelter in the square, protected for its architecture.
- The view across Via Roma to the harbour and the new seafront promenade, with ferries and cruise ships often moored a short distance away.
Who was Giacomo Matteotti?
Giacomo Matteotti was a Socialist member of the Italian parliament. On 30 May 1924 he stood up in the Chamber of Deputies and denounced the violence and fraud of the elections won by Mussolini's Fascists. On 10 June he was kidnapped in Rome by a Fascist squad and murdered. His death caused a national crisis and became a symbol of resistance to the dictatorship, which is why so many Italian towns, Cagliari among them, have a street or square named after him.
Tips for your visit
- If you arrive by train or bus you are already in the square: head along Via Roma under the arcades, or up Largo Carlo Felice towards the old town.
- For the best view of the Palazzo Civico's full façade and towers, cross Via Roma at the lights to the harbour side.
- The interior of the Palazzo Civico, with paintings by Filippo Figari and a 17th-century Flemish wall hanging, is occasionally opened to visitors, for example during the Monumenti Aperti weekends.
- In summer, walk on the shady side under the arcades of Via Roma: the waterfront gets very hot at midday.
Nearby
- Via Roma: Cagliari's seafront street, with long arcades full of cafés and shops facing the port.
- Largo Carlo Felice and Piazza Yenne: the broad street that climbs from the port to Piazza Yenne, where a statue of King Carlo Felice stands.
- Marina: the old quarter behind Via Roma, a grid of narrow lanes with trattorias, small churches and craft shops.
- Bastione di Saint Remy: the monumental terrace and stairway that lead up to the Castello district, with one of the best views over the city and the sea.
See Cagliari with World City Trail
Our Cagliari scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 45 minutes of walking. It includes the Bastione di Saint Remy and Cagliari Cathedral, up in the Castello district.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Cagliari.
Play the Cagliari scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Cagliari →
Play the outdoor escape game in Cagliari →
Facts checked in October 2026.