Santa Gilla – natural area of about 8 thousand acres, located on the territory of the municipality of Cagliari and separated from the sea by a sand spit La Playa. For centuries, these wetlands provide habitats for numerous species of birds, both migrating and nesting. Among the most common birds that can be spotted on Santa Gilla, sea crows, coots, banded stilts, small the Sultan and Plovers. But the most spectacular attraction of these places are colonies of pink flamingos that inhabit the Santa Gilla and lake Molentargius. Pink Flamingo you can even see close to the road – just ten meters from the highway!

I must say that this road crossing the lagoon, is just one example of how you can break the fragile ecosystem. Immediately after the Second World war, there were built several chemical plants, and this industrialization and the subsequent commercial development of the area resulted in the need for the construction of the canal and the harbour. A draft of the proposed channel and the harbour caused a wave of public protest among the inhabitants of Cagliari who were concerned about the fate of wetlands. The problem was solved only in the early 1980-ies. Today there is a project to create on the edge of the harbour, which is still under construction, bird sanctuary. Also plan to install a water purification system for the zone Mallareddy. Degradation of ecosystems Santa Gilla, who last appeared on the verge of extinction, was stopped, and today it is again possible to catch fish.

The charm of Santa Gilla is not only in a noisy bird colonies and incredibly beautiful views at sunrise and sunset. 3 km from Cagliari on the road to Puerto Cabezas is "sa illetta" ("little Villa" in Sardinian dialect), which was once a tiny island in the middle of lake Molentargius. Now this is not the island – "sa illetta" connected with the road to the Pool. A local landmark is the chapel of San simón with a Gothic portal and a wall painting of Saint Simon. Inside you can see a semi-circular apse, barrel vaults and arches with lintels.