Sassari (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsassari] ( listen); Sassarese: Sassari; Sardinian: Tàtari) is an Italian city and the second-largest of Sardinia in terms of population with over 130,000 inhabitants, or about 275,000 including the metropolitan area. Being one of the oldest cities on the island, it contains a considerable collection of art.
From his birth at the turn of the 12th century, Sassari has been ruled by the decaying Giudicato of Torres, the Pisans, the Sassaresi themselves in alliance with Genoa, the Catalan-Aragonese and the Spanish, all of whom have contributed to Sassari's historical and artistic heritage. Sassari is a city rich in art, culture and history, and is well known for its beautiful palazzi, the Fountain of the Rosello, and its elegant neoclassical architecture, such as Piazza d'Italia (Italy Square) and the Teatro Civico (Civic Theatre).
As Sardinia's second most populated city, and the fifth largest municipality in Italy (546 km²), it has a considerable amount of cultural, touristic, commercial and political importance in the island. The city's economy mainly relies on tourism and services, however also partially on research, construction, pharmaceuticals and the petroleum industry.