Introduction |  |
Alghero is one of those places that the Italians have been happy to keep to themselves. Tucked away on the north-western coast of the island of Sardinia, this fishing port remains unspoilt and mostly devoid of the package holiday crowds. One look at the medieval old town with its mighty stone wall and seven surrounding watchtowers, and you’ll likely be keeping quiet about where you went on your holidays too.
Invaded by Catalan colonists in the 14th century, Alghero offers an enticing mix of two nations: delicious Catalan cuisine served in Italian piazzas, impressive monuments erected during Aragonese rule and Italian vineyards such as the prestigious Sella e Mosca (Loc. I Piani di Sotgiu, 079 997 700, www.sellaemosca.com), also a museum. The ruling families even gave Alghero the nickname Barcelonetta, ‘Little Barcelona’, and all the street signs are bilingual. With holiday destinations as practically undiscovered as this, there’s usually one essential thing missing – maybe the beach ends up being little more than a cliff, or there’s nothing to see or do after you’ve strolled around the main square. But with Alghero, there is no catch. The beautiful beach is long and sandy, shaded by pine forests. There are fetes, carnivals and events through the year, and the locals actually seem pleased to see you.
• Tourist information: Piazza Porta Terra 2 (079 979 054).
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