Flight of the Birds of Cagliari

As dusk falls in Cagliari in the spring and early summer, you can feel a change in the air. Small flocks of greater flamingos fly back and forth over the city, from the Molentargius wetlands, where thousands of them nest, to the Santa Gilla lagoon, which offers the birds rich nourishment. With a population of about 150,000, this regional capital on the southern coast of Sardinia has ancient Phoenician-Roman roots. For almost two decades, changing municipal governments have tried to promote the green-blue potential of this panoramic seaside city stretching out across seven hills. From the two bordering lagoons, various parks and gardens create natural counterpoints in the island city, although the city’s rapid growth after the war did not always include good building quality.

As early as the Green Plan (Piano del Verde) developed with LAND in 1996, strategic principles had been developed to double public green areas. At present (2021-22), the focus is on developing and updating this master plan and transforming the historic administrative city to a green metropolis. The new strategic plan currently being developed is meant to prepare Cagliari to make a new bid for the European Green Capital Award after this summer’s failed attempt in the competition for the title of “European Green Capital.”

“We continue to persevere,” says Paolo Truzzu. The mayor wants to examine the reasons for the rejection set out in the commission’s report and to use them as a catalyst for improvement and another application in the future. Cagliari as the green city on the sea? The goal may still be distant – but there’s a clear map pointing the way.