The Sella del Diavolo is a promontory stretching along the centre of the Gulf of Cagliari, in southern Sardinia, in the island’s capital.
The unmistakable profile of the promontory is one of the city of Cagliari’s distinctive features and its coastline, the Poetto beach. The Sella stands at the centre of the Gulf representing a continuation towards the sea of the Colle di Sant’Elia, one of the seven hills on which the city was built.
From a geological point of view, the promontory rocks are chalky, with a typical structure of the other hills. They are of antique marine origin, made up mostly of collections of shells and other fossils from the Miocene era.
The promontory is covered in a thick vegetation and we can see examples of the European fan palm, juniper, wild olive, Mastic tree and spurge. Furthermore, the Sella is a habitat for different rare birds, like the peregrine falcon, kestrel and Sardinian partridge. Wolves and wild rabbits live among its shrubs and bushes.
Thanks to its naturalness, the area attracts excursionists who can enjoy the experience of being in contact with the wild nature just a few kilometres from the city centre.
Furthermore, the site is of archaeological importance. Indeed, the natural grottoes around the Capo Sant’Elia unveiled traces of inhabitants as early as Neolithic times. At the highest point, we find the ruins of a Punic temple dedicated to Astarte.
The promontory offers unique and picturesque scenery. This is why, as legend has it, and from which its name originates, the celestial troops andfallen angels of Lucifer, fought to dominate the Gulf.
The battle takes place in the skies above the coast of Cagliari and is won by the army of angels led by the Archangel Michael, while Lucifer during the battle loses the saddle of his mount that falls on the promontory giving it its current shape. From here comes the name Sella del Diavolo (Devil’s Saddle) and, at the same time the bay takes on the name of the Golfo degli Angeli (Gulf of Angels)
There are two Sites of Community Importance (SIC) on the promontory “Torre del Poetto” (ITB042242) and “Monte Sant’Elia, Cala Mosca and Cala Fighera” (ITB042243), pertinent to the Natura 2000 Network.
