Elephant Tower – a place of art and mystery

History and description

Erected in 1307, designed by Giovanni Capula and commissioned by Giovanni De Vecchi and Cinquini, the tower was part of the defensive system and served to protect the castle during the Pisan domination. Closed during the Aragonese rule, it was later used as an armory, prison, and jail until 1906, when it was restored and brought back to its original appearance. Built in white limestone and about 30 meters high, it features four floors supported by wooden mezzanines, three entrance gates, 17 loopholes, and two portcullises. Its name derives from a small sculpture of an elephant placed on a corbel, symbol of Pisan rule but also, according to some scholars, a protective emblem.

Curiosities

During its time as a prison, the tower was notorious for displaying the severed heads of executed prisoners as a warning to others. Among them was the Marquis of Cea, beheaded for treason in 1671, whose head was left to rot there for months.

Access

Open daily with varying hours, the tower can be visited at the cost of €3, with specific reductions available and free entry on the first Sunday of the month. However, it is currently closed for safety works.

How to reach it

Located in the Castello district of Cagliari, the tower can be reached by city buses or on foot.

A medieval symbol of the city and a testimony to Pisan domination, the Elephant Tower is one of Sardinia’s unmissable monuments, blending history, art, and mystery.

Cover photo credits: Comune di Cagliari