Metropolitan City of Cagliari

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Metropolitan City of Cagliari
Metropolitan City
Palazzo Reale, the provincial seat
Palazzo Reale, the provincial seat
Location of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari
Location of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari
Country  Italy
Region Sardinia
Established 4 February 2016
Capital(s) Cagliari
Comuni 17
Area
 • Total 1,248 km2 (482 sq mi)
Population (2015)
 • Total 431,302
 • Density 350/km2 (900/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISTAT ?

The Metropolitan City of Cagliari (Italian: Città metropolitana di Cagliari ) is one of the 14 metropolitan cities of Italy, and is located on the island of Sardinia. It was established by law in 2016, and replaced the Province of Cagliari.[1] The metropolitan area is composed of the city of Cagliari and 16 surrounding towns. It covers about 1,114 km2 (430 sq mi) and has 422,308 inhabitants.[when?]

Geography

File:Cagliari.jpg
Cagliari metropolitan area by night

The Metropolitan City of Cagliari extends over the plain of Campidano, between two mountain ranges. The Sulcis Range is to the west and includes Monti Arcosu, it, and Punta Sebera. To the east is the Monte Linias Range, including it and Sette Fratelli. These mountains are composed of Ordovician shale and Carboniferous granite, and do not exceed Lua error in Module:Convert at line 272: attempt to index local 'cat' (a nil value).. An exception is it which is 1,116 m (3,661 ft).

The city is spread over and around ten limestone hills of the middle-late Miocene, with heights of Lua error in Module:Convert at line 272: attempt to index local 'cat' (a nil value)., on the plains of Campidano.[2] The plain is actually a graben formed during the Alpine orogeny of the Cenozoic, the same series of tectonic shifts that separated Sardinia from the European continent. The plain was broken up by vertical tectonic movements that created the ten hills, and covered by Miocene marine deposits and Holocene alluvial deposits.[2][3]

The hills of Cagliari are:[4]

  • Mount Urpinu - from the Sardinian word for fox, a park in the city center
  • St. Elias Hill - also known as Devil's Saddle for its shape
  • Tuvumannu
  • Tuvixeddu - the highest of the hills with the remains of a Roman necropolis on top
  • Bonaria Hill - site of the Monumental Cemetery of Bonaria, built on the ruins of an earlier necropolis
  • San Michele Hill - on top of this hill is San Michele Castle, dating back to the 13th century
  • Castle Hill - a number of towers on top, including the Torre dell'Elefante (Elephant Tower), date from the 14th century and that were part of a fortress
  • Sant'Elia
  • Buoncammino Hill - site of an old arsenal, now the National Archaeological Museum
  • Monte Claro Park - located in the city center

The modern city has occupied the flat spaces between the hills. The sea is to the south and south-east, along the Poetto beach. The the lagoons and ponds of Santa Gilla and Mandolentargius, are wildlife areas, and were named international sites of importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1976.

Climate

Cagliari and the Campidano plain have a Mediterranean climate (Csa in the Köppen climate classification) with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The extreme values in summer are over 40 °C (104 °F), often with high humidity, while in winter, the record lows are below zero. Heavy snowfalls occur, on average, every thirty years.

The average temperature of the coldest month, January, is about 10 °C (50 °F), and that of the warmest month, August, about 25 °C (77 °F). However, heat waves can occur, due to African anticyclone activity, starting in June. From mid-June to mid-September, rain is a rare event, usually storms in the afternoon. The rainy season starts in September, but the first cold days come in December, which is usually the wettest month.

Winds are frequent, especially the mistral and sirocco; in summer days a marine sirocco breeze (s'imbattu) lowers the temperature and the humidity.

Climate data for Cagliari
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 14.3
(57.7)
14.8
(58.6)
16.5
(61.7)
18.6
(65.5)
22.9
(73.2)
27.3
(81.1)
30.4
(86.7)
30.8
(87.4)
27.4
(81.3)
23.1
(73.6)
18.3
(64.9)
15.4
(59.7)
21.7
(71.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8)
10.3
(50.5)
11.8
(53.2)
13.7
(56.7)
17.7
(63.9)
21.7
(71.1)
24.7
(76.5)
25.2
(77.4)
22.3
(72.1)
18.4
(65.1)
13.8
(56.8)
11.0
(51.8)
16.7
(62.1)
Average low °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9)
5.8
(42.4)
7.1
(44.8)
8.9
(48)
12.4
(54.3)
16.2
(61.2)
18.9
(66)
19.6
(67.3)
17.1
(62.8)
13.7
(56.7)
9.3
(48.7)
6.6
(43.9)
11.8
(53.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 49.7
(1.957)
53.3
(2.098)
40.4
(1.591)
39.7
(1.563)
26.1
(1.028)
11.9
(0.469)
4.1
(0.161)
7.5
(0.295)
34.9
(1.374)
52.6
(2.071)
58.4
(2.299)
48.9
(1.925)
427.5
(16.831)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.8 6.8 6.8 7.0 4.4 2.1 0.8 1.3 4.3 6.5 7.4 7.4 61.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 136.4 139.2 186.0 213.0 269.7 288.0 334.8 310.0 246.0 198.4 147.0 127.1 2,595.6
Source: Servizio Meteorologico,[5]

On the mountains, the climate is very different, with plentiful averages rainfalls, cold winters, and mild warm summers (Csb in the Köppen climate classification).

Climate data for Is Cannoneris near Punta Sebera m. 716 on sea level
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)
10.2
(50.4)
12
(54)
13.7
(56.7)
18.3
(64.9)
22.6
(72.7)
26.4
(79.5)
27.9
(82.2)
23.4
(74.1)
18.2
(64.8)
13.8
(56.8)
10.9
(51.6)
17.2
(63)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
7.3
(45.1)
8.8
(47.8)
10.4
(50.7)
14.4
(57.9)
19.0
(66.2)
22.0
(71.6)
23.7
(74.7)
19.6
(67.3)
15.4
(59.7)
11.2
(52.2)
7.9
(46.2)
13,9
(56.96)
Average low °C (°F) 3.1
(37.6)
5.2
(41.4)
5.8
(42.4)
7.8
(46)
11.5
(52.7)
15.5
(59.9)
19.7
(67.5)
19.4
(66.9)
16.2
(61.2)
12.7
(54.9)
9.1
(48.4)
5.6
(42.1)
11.0
(51.8)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 156
(6.14)
155
(6.1)
128
(5.04)
95
(3.74)
64
(2.52)
17
(0.67)
4
(0.16)
15
(0.59)
49
(1.93)
128
(5.04)
141
(5.55)
178
(7.01)
1,130
(44.49)
Source: Servizio Meteorologico

Metropolitan Municipalities

File:Campidano 800.jpg
Satellite view of Cagliari
Municipality (in Italian and Sardinian) Area (km²) Census 2001 Jan 2015 % Inhab./km² Distance from city center (km)
Cagliari / Casteddu 85.45 164249 154 019 -6,6 1 802 0
Quartu Sant'Elena / Quartu Sant'Aleni 9620 68.040 70 675 3,9 735 9
Selargius/Ceraxius 26.71 27440 28 972 5,6 1 085 9
Assemini / Assèmini 117.50 23973 26 965 12,5 229 14
Capoterra / Cabuderra 68.25 21391 23 850 11,5 349 20
Monserrato / Pauli 6.50 20356 20 391 0,2 3.137 7
Sestu 48.32 15 233 20376 33,8 422 11
Sinnai / Sìnnia 223.38 15 235 17114 12,3 77 15
Quartucciu 27.87 10 766 13131 22,0 471 9
Elmas / Su Masu 13.70 7 930 9253 16,7 675 10
Uta / Uda 134.46 6 692 8392 25,3 52 29
Decimomannu / Deximumannu 28.05 6 836 8092 18,4 288 19
Maracalagonis 101.60 6 731 7836 16,4 77 18
Pula 138.79 6 535 7319 12,0 53 33
Settimo San Pietro 23.21 5 949 6669 12,1 287 13
Sarroch / Sarroccu 67.88 5 243 5292 0,9 78 25
Villa San Pietro / Santu Perdu 39.61 1 778 2067 16,3 62 21
Total 1248.42 414 377 430 413 3,9 345

Economy

According to 2014 data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the income tax rate for residents of Cagliari was 140% of the national average, for the metropolitan area it was 119%, and for Sardinia as a whole, it was 81%. The 26% of the island population that lives in Cagliari Metropolitan City, produces 38% of the island's GDP, and the urban-area income is greater than that of the rest of Sardinia. According to Eurostat, in 2009, the metropolitan area of Cagliari had a per capita purchasing power standard (PPS) of 21.699 euros, which is 92.4% of the European Union (27) data.[6]

The traditional economy is based on agriculture: the cultivation of wheat, olive groves and vineyards, gardens and orchards where there was plenty of water in the dry summer. The mountains were exploited for firewood and coal that were sold at Cagliari. There are mines, particularly the Iron mine of San Leone in the territory of Assemini. There are, also, large salt pans east and west of Cagliari.

File:Saras da torre.JPG
Saras oil Refinery

Currently, the capital city holds most of the administrative offices, the retail trade (particularly in the historic center), financial services, professional offices, and health services. Industry, warehousing, and major shopping centers are concentrated in the other municipalities of the metropolitan area. Tourism is concentrated along the coast.

In 2014, the Cagliari-Sarroch port system was the third largest in Italy, as measured by amount of goods transferred.[7]

The Macchiareddu-Grogastru area between Cagliari and Capoterra, in conjunction with the Port of Cagliari, is the most important industrial area of Sardinia. The port includes the Cagliari International Container Terminal (CICT) at Giorgino, which had an annual traffic capacity of 1,000,000 TEU's in 2002.[8] Multinational corporations like Coca Cola, Heineken, Unilever, Bridgestone and Eni Group have factories in this area. Within the metropolitan area at Sarroch, there is one of the six oil refinery supersites in Europe, called Saras.

The communications provider, Tiscali, has its headquarters in the boroughs of Cagliari.

Main sights

Churches

File:Tomba dei Giganti Is Concias.jpg
Is Concias Giant's Grave

Archaeological sites

In the metropolitan area there are ruins of neolithic and chalcolithic villages, and several domus de Janas. There are also many nuraghes; the Nuraghe Diana on the coast of Quartu Sant'Elena and the nuraghes Sa Domu de S'Orcu and Antigori on the coast of Sarroch are particularly important. A deep, sacred well is located in Settimo San Pietro and a giants' grave, Is Concias, in the territory of Quartucciu.

File:Nora-Theater.jpg
The Roman Theater at Nora

In the city of Nora, there are ruins of the Punic and Roman periods. The Tuvixeddu necropolis and a Roman Amphitheatre are located in Cagliari.

Metropolitan forests

File:Le cime dei Sette Fratelli.jpg
Sette Fratelli Mountains
File:Forested areas near Cagliari.jpg
Forested areas near Cagliari

The metropolitan area is delimited to the east and west by high mountain ranges, largely covered by Mediterranean forests, dominated by evergreen, oak, cork oak, and arbutus. The forests are managed by the Regional Forest Agency and extend for 273 km2 (105 sq mi), about 22% of the total surface. To the west is the Monte ArcosuPiscinamanna Forest which is 35,000 hectares (86,000 acres). Within this forest is the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Monte Arcosu Oasis, created to protect the subspecies of Sardinian deer (Cervus elaphus ssp. Corsicanus). The oasis is 3,600 hectares (8,900 acres).

The Regional Agency manages other forests west of Cagliari City: Is Cannoneris is 4,768 hectares (11,780 acres), Monti Nieddu is 2,451 hectares (6,060 acres), and Gutturu Mannu is 4,768 hectares (11,780 acres).[9] To the east, the Agency manages the Campidano Forest which is 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres), and the forest of the Sette Fratelli ("Seven Brothers") which is about 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres). The mountain of Sette Fratelli, which is covered by the forest, is a vast massif with many crested peaks, seven of which are visible from Cagliari.

The environment of the metropolitan city varies with altitude in both temperature and precipitation. In the municipality of Pula, for example, the coastal plain has an annual average rainfall of about 450 mm (18 in), while the mountains (Is Cannoneris, about 800 meters above sea level) have more than 1,200 mm (47 in). The forests are populated by Sardinian deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus), now saved from near-extinction, the fallow deer, reintroduced after its extinction from the area, wild boars, foxes, and European pine martens.

Metropolitan beaches

File:Plage "Il Poetto", Cagliari.JPG
Poetto Beach, Cagliari

In the municipalities of the metropolitan area there are numerous beaches. One of the biggest is the Poetto beach of Cagliari and Quartu Sant'Elena, 10 km (6.2 mi) of fine sand in front of the it:Sella del Diavolo. To the east of Cagliari are the beaches of Geremeas and Solanas, and to the west are the beaches of Nora and Santa Margherita, in the commune of Pula.

Transportation

References

  1. Legge Regionale 4 febbraio 2016, n. 2-Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, Regione.sardegna.it, 02/04/2016
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Tabelle climatiche 1971-2000 della stazione meteorologica di Cagliari-Elmas Ponente dall'Atlante Climatico 1971-2000 - Servizio Meteorologico dell'Aeronautica Militare
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. http://www.assoporti.it/sites/www.assoporti.it/files/statistiche/Movimenti_portuali_2014_14lug15.pdf[dead link]
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons