Overview to Alghero: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
Alghero is a bit of anomaly; an Italian town on the northeast coast of the lovely island of Sardinia that speaks Catalan, it's a thoroughly pleasant surprise in more ways than one.
Many travelers come to Alghero for the beaches, and they certainly don’t disappoint. Held in by pine trees that whisper in the warm sea breezes, the beaches of Maria Pia (the nearest) and, a little further afield, La Pelosa, Porto Conte and Bosa are all delightful.
From the beach there are also fantastic walks along the coast. It becomes increasingly dramatic out to Capo Caccia, where high cliff faces surge downwards into the sparkling sea. The famous Neptune’s Grotto is just one of many caves that puncture this striking coastline.
Held in by thick city walls and impressive watch towers, the narrow streets of the Old Town, packed with fascinating churches and a 16th century Cathedral, are absolutely stunning. What’s more, the rustic little bars that are tucked away here and there are perfect for having a glass of wine on a warm summer evening.
As you’d hope from a port town, Alghero has some of the finest seafood to be found anywhere in Italy. Sitting in a restaurant (of which there are countless good ones), you can be sure that your fish has been hauled out of the sea that same day.
What Alghero isn’t, is a party town. Its bars – nice as they are – tend to shut earlier than in many other parts of Italy. What it is, however, is one of the most charming and least touristy old town in the Mediterranean: put simply, it's Italy at its very best.
