Sassari was founded in the XII century by the coastline inhabitants, that escaped from the barbaric incursions. It' name was first mentioned in an old register of 1131, traced in the Monastery of San Pietro in Silki, situated in the district of the city. The development of the village was encouraged by the strategic location at the center of the Giudicato of Torres.

The city has a modern aspect, but preserves between its medieval walls, corners of historic remark with narrow streets and alleys with churches and building that evidence features of the different ages.

The Cathedral of San Nicola, in Romanesque style, with wonderful cross vault of the Aragon Spanish period, presents a extraordinary façade of the '700 in Baroque style. Inside a lot of masterpieces are preserved such as the major altar with the Madonna del Bosco ('300), oil paintings and the neoclassic Mausoleum of Placido Benedetto of Savoia, Earl of Moriana, artwork of Felice Festa (1807). Of major interest are the exhibits of the Diocesan Museum: silver ornaments, sacred garments and a splendid processional table painted banner of the '500.

The Duke's palace, built on request of the Duke of Vallombrosa, between 1775 and 1806, is today the seat of the Town Council.

Worth a visit the Palace of the Province, edified in late '800 and hosts an art gallery with paintings of important Sardinian artists and a wall fresco of the artist of Catania, Giuseppe Sciuti, that features "the entrance of Gio Maria Angioy in Sassari".

The prehistoric altar of Mount Accodi, unique example of its kind in all the Mediterranean area, is a megalith monument discovered in 1954 and includes an altar, a small village and a necropolis "ipogeica" of the Medio Neolithic Ages (IV millennium b.C.)

Emblem of the city is the Fountain di Rosello, scuplture of 1606 in late Renaissance style, art work of the marble masters of Genoa, surrounded by statues that feature the Seasons in white and green marble, with Baroque style arches that embrace the equestrian statue of San Gavino. Other important monuments to be visited, are: the Church of Santa Maria di Betlem, the Church of San Michele di Plaiano, the Church of Santa Caterina, Palazzo Barone d'Usini, Palazzo Sciuti, Palazzo Giordano, Palazzo Cugurra and Villa Mimosa.