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San Benedetto is a neighborhood in the city of Cagliari, located in the eastern area and equipped with all the necessary services for its numerous inhabitants (schools, transportation, various shops, churches, post offices, and banks). It is located in the area that extends from the square of the same name, in a radial pattern, through the commercial and residential streets, famous for being among the busiest in the city.

San Benedetto cannot be labeled as just a residential neighborhood or exclusively commercial area since it encompasses both characteristics, effectively meeting the needs of its residents and all citizens of Cagliari.

The San Benedetto neighborhood develops around Dante Street and San Benedetto Street, to the east of the historic Villanova neighborhood, in an area of Cagliari that was open countryside until the 19th century. Originally conceived as a residential village for less affluent families, it experienced a demographic boom in the 1950s, leading to the construction of tall and modern buildings for housing, offices, and commercial establishments.

Commerce is the heart of the San Benedetto neighborhood, primarily because it houses the city's richest market, known as the San Benedetto Market. Inaugurated in 1957 to replace the old Civic Market of Cagliari, which was located in the Marina neighborhood and recently renovated, it is the largest covered civic market in Europe. The fish section, in particular, is worth a visit armed with a camera, both for the incredibly fresh and lively products and the faces you encounter (they would make a casting manager happy).

For over fifty years, the San Benedetto market has been a must-visit for the people of Cagliari and has also become a tourist attraction for enthusiasts of local products and gastronomy. It includes 238 operators competing freely. There are 75 fish stalls on the ground floor, offering the best fish from the seas of Sardinia, categorized according to seasons and divided into small catches, fresh fish, seafood, salted products, and frozen fish. The upper floor is reserved for 68 fruit and vegetable stalls and 51 butcher stalls, offering beef, horse, pork, poultry, and offal; other stalls sell groceries, bread, cheese, and typical Sardinian sweets.

Famous even beyond national borders (it holds the European record for extension and is impressive for its size and dominant position at the highest point of the neighborhood), the San Benedetto market is perhaps the most iconic and well-known place in reference to the district. Its construction became necessary due to the simultaneous demolition of the old Civic Market located in Carlo Felice Square. It was inaugurated on June 1, 1957, and has an area of approximately 8,000 square meters, spread over two floors dedicated to the sale of various products. The ground floor offers a variety of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other seafood, while the first floor offers meat, fruits, vegetables, bread, cured meats, cheeses, and typical Sardinian sweets. The building is surrounded externally by numerous stalls that sell products different from those available in the market, such as clothing, dishes, household items, plants, and flowers. For these reasons, Cocco Ortu and Tiziano streets, which run alongside it, are renowned for their chaos, especially during the morning hours when the market is in full swing.

The market, along with the surrounding shops and bars, is also an opportunity for an unforgettable breakfast or snack. You will find yourself in a vibrant environment full of colors and intense aromas, where, in addition to the regular customers, you frequently encounter tourists from all nationalities.

At the intersection of Paoli Street and Tola Street (between the San Benedetto neighborhood and the newer part of Villanova), you can often come across Gigi Riva, the "Thunderclap" of Cagliari's 1970 championship team, taking a stroll. You will notice that no one stops or disturbs him on the street. This is why he decided to stay in Cagliari: because this city respects privacy, and its inhabitants are not intrusive.

In conclusion, the San Benedetto neighborhood, despite not being part of Cagliari's historic core, undoubtedly represents the character and "heart" of the city. Not far from the market, we find the Lirico Theater. The structure was inaugurated on September 2, 1993, and after the opening, workshops (tailoring, props, lighting, set construction, blacksmith), rehearsal rooms, warehouses, and offices were added to the main hall and foyer. A library was built adjacent to the theater, while a bar and restaurant were placed in the foyer of the auditorium. The works lasted until the early 2000s, with the renovation (by architect Massimo Zucchi) of the main entrance, ticket office and porter's lodge, walls and furnishings of the foyer, and internal and external lighting. The Cagliari Lirico Theater is home to the foundation of the same name. The main activity of the Foundation is the annual organization of a concert season (chamber, symphonic, and choral) and an opera and ballet season. In addition to that, other musical activities are organized throughout the year by the foundation, using the theater spaces, the adjacent Music Park, and other locations in Cagliari and other cities in Sardinia.

Just 7 km from the city center and easily accessible by car, public transportation, or rental bikes, we find the Poetto Beach, overlooking the Gulf of the Angels, on the central-southern coast of Sardinia. Although the white sand dunes and colorful beach huts are just a memory of the past, the beach still retains considerable charm, enhanced by the presence of the Sella del Diavolo promontory, which overlooks the Marina Piccola harbor. These elements, along with the proximity to the city and the lively atmosphere provided by the characteristic beach bars, make Poetto the favorite destination for the people of Cagliari during the summer season and on any sunny day throughout the year.