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A delightful town on Sardinia's west coast, Alghero is not just a thriving tourist town but also a busy fishing port - this is one city that tourism has definitely not knocked the heart out of. It's very ancient, having been settled by the Ozieri civilisation around 4000BC and then the Nuraghic in 1500BC or so. The remnants of the Nuraghi can be found all over Sardinia of course in the towers of the same name - stone beehive like buildings, some 8000 of which pepper the island. We'll fast forward through the Phoenician era, though Genoese rule (Genoa fortified the town around 1102), through the brief Pisan rule (1283-84) and to its capture by Aragon in 1354. This was the rule that gave Alghero the distinctive Catalan flavour it retains to this day. The whole city was Hispanicized, and became known as Barcelonetta (little Barcelona). To this day, the old town boasts wrought-iron balconies, opulent proto-Baroque churches, and little cobbled streets with names in both Italian and Catalan. The old town is the really interesting bit in fact, lying on a promontory that abuts into the Mediterranean. Defended from both sea and land by its seven defensive towers and surrounding walls. Important buildings include a fine 16th century Cattedrale, the Palazzo d'Albis on Piazza Civica and the Jewish palace of Palau Reial. Check out the Giardino Pubblico, the Churches of St Francis and St Michael, the Torre del Portal and the Madonna del Santo Rosario. Nearby you'll find around 100 Nuraghe towers, and the remains of the Phoenician acropolis. There are Roman remains at Palmavera and Anghelu Ruju and out toward the airport. A good town walk heads from the old port, along the town walls to the north promenade. Here you scale the Hill of El Tro, which gives terrific views of town and gulf.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Alghero hotels.
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