On the northwestern coast of Sardinia lies one of the island's largest cities, the beautiful resort and historical treasure of Alghero. The medieval city of incredible beauty attracts tourists from all over the world to relax in “Little Catalunya,” as locals lovingly call Alghero. And this is not surprising, because most of the population of Alghero speaks the Catalan dialect, many families honor Catalan customs, holidays and traditions of Catalonia. While relaxing in this amazing resort, you will not only enjoy magnificent beaches framed by rocky cliffs and Mediterranean vegetation, but also plunge into the atmosphere and culture of Minicatalonia and feel its true spirit. If you prefer a beach holiday in a mild climate with wonderful scenery at very pleasant water and air temperatures, combined with educational and exciting walks through the historical places of the city, feel free to book, because in this beautiful Sardinian resort you will find all this and even more. Even from the sea you can discover majestic impregnable fortress walls, towers and forts, miraculously preserved to this day and creating the feeling that you are entering a beautiful medieval castle. And the bastions located on the coast are romantically named after the great travelers Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo and Magellan, as if inviting all passing ships to their backwater.

As in any other city rich in attractions, you should start getting acquainted with Alghero from the old town, where the main historical and cultural monuments are concentrated. One of the most famous and recognizable landmarks of Alghero and all of Sardinia is the Gothic Cathedral of St. Mary, located in Piazza Duomo. Its famous bell tower, designed in the Gothic Catalan style, stands proudly over Alghero. In summer, be sure to climb to its top, and an incredible panoramic view of the picturesque surroundings will open before you. And connoisseurs of organ music will be interested in the fact that within the walls of the Cathedral a unique ancient organ is kept in an atmosphere of rich interior decoration.

The hallmark of Alghero, which appears on all photos of the city and has become a symbol of its beauty and grandeur, is the Church of San Michele (Chiesa di San Michele), dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Michele. Its octagonal dome, made in the early Baroque style, is decorated with multi-colored majolica and plays in the Sardinian sun, like the colorful scales of magical fish. Alghero is a resort that is rightfully proud not only of its valuable historical and cultural monuments, but also of its extraordinary natural beauty.

Transfer time

15 minutes from Alghero airport, 2 hours 10 minutes from Olbia, 3 hours from Cagliari

A holiday in Sardinia is a real adventure, exciting and unforgettable. This piece of paradise is ready to open its arms to all those who love to bask on the beach, go hiking or cycling, engage in water sports and take excursions to the most wonderful corners of the planet.

Every year more and more tourists come here, wanting to spend at least a few days in this wonderful piece of paradise. The island offers many resort areas to choose from and a huge amount of entertainment.

What is Sardinia? This is a Mediterranean island, an island part of Italy, which is famous for its mild climate, almost two hundred-meter beaches and comfortable relaxation. The northeastern part of the island is a prestigious area where the houses and villas of the most famous and wealthy people from all over the world are located.

According to an ancient and very beautiful story, the island of Sardinia appeared from the imprint of the foot of the great Creator when he stepped into the water. The resulting piece of land had a bizarre shape, and unusually beautiful nature appeared on its surface: white sandy beaches, flower fields, crystal clear lakes and lush greenery. This is exactly how this corner appears to all those who decide to visit it. On the list of cities that are definitely worth visiting on the island is Alghero.

City of Alghero, Sardinia: location

Alghero is located in the province of Sassari, its population reaches 44 thousand people. It is one of the main cities in Sardinia as it has an international airport.

The coastline of the city is called Riviera del Corallo - "Coral Riviera". A large colony of red corals lives here, which made the city of Alghero famous far beyond Italy. The collection and sale of coral is of great importance in the life of Sardinia - both economically and culturally.

The development of the culture and language of the inhabitants of Alghero has long been influenced by the Spaniards, so the streets here have double names, and many residents speak two languages ​​fluently.

Weather

Alghero extends right on the seashore, so the climate here is quite mild, and two capes (Punto Giglio and Capo Caccia) reliably protect the city from strong winds.

In winter, the weather in Alghero is quite warm: the average temperature often stops at -10 o C. In summer, the thermometer rises to +22 o C.

Nature of the city and its surroundings

The rich landscape is represented by cliffs with sharp and flat stones, sandy beaches, and luxurious Mediterranean vegetation. In the vicinity of the city there are extensive olive groves.

The area of ​​Cape Capo Caccio is popular due to the large number of caves and gorges, most of which remain poorly studied. The most famous of them is Neptune's Cave with hundreds of stalactites and stalagmites. The territory of this cape recently turned into a nature reserve.

The coast of Sardinia in Alghero is in great demand among divers. The dive allows you to see the incredible beauty of the underwater world: corals, eels, moray eels, huge lobsters and many other underwater inhabitants. Even the most experienced divers will probably want to see the Nereus Grotto with their own eyes - the largest sea cave in all of Europe.

Natural attractions

The Alghers of Sardinia are not only a paradise for divers, there are also many natural attractions for those who do not intend to snorkel and scuba dive.

Cape Capo Caccia is a cliff whose shape closely resembles the silhouette of a sleeping giant. It is from here that you can admire the magnificent scenery and visit the magnificent caves in the nature reserve.

Noah's Ark Nature Reserve (Arcadi Noè). This place fully justifies its poetic name. A large number of animals and birds of different species live in a small area. Pink gulls, kestrels, cormorants, peregrine falcons and many other birds nest here. You can often find groups of wild boars, wild horses, and fallow deer.

Historical cultural monuments

After exploring the natural beauties of the island, be sure to visit the famous historical monuments that will tell you about the rich cultural heritage of Sardinia.

• Alghero Cathedral. This building is located in the historical center of the city and is considered its main building. It is often called the symbol and main attraction of Alghero. The cathedral was built back in the 16th century. The building is made in the style of the late Renaissance, and the interior decoration fascinates and delights with its grandeur and luxury.

• Church of St. Michael. The famous Chiesa di San Michele, like the previous cathedral, is located in the historical center of the city. It was first mentioned back in the 14th century, and has now become one of the local attractions. Its distinctive feature is an octagonal dome, completely covered with brightly colored ceramic tiles.



Nurag Palmavera (megalithic complex). A few kilometers from the city of Alghero there is a monument of the Bronze and Iron Age. The oldest part of this structure is the central limestone tower.

Beaches of Alghero

Beach holidays are one of the main reasons why thousands of tourists come to Sardinia every year. The province of Sassari (where Alghero is located) is famous for its luxurious beaches. Both Italians themselves and residents of European countries love to come here. Quite often you can meet Russian-speaking travelers here, as many tour operators are actively promoting this tourist destination.

On the Coral Riviera in the city of Alghero there are several beaches.

Spiaggia del Lido. Central city beach. The shore here is covered with fine, clean golden sand, and the water is crystal clear. This option is perfect for families with children - the entrance to the water is gentle.

Maria Pia. This beach is located slightly south of the previous one. Here you can also have a good rest on the fine sand. This place is suitable for those who want to relax without fuss, like savages. However, there are also well-equipped swimming areas.

Burantin. This beach is located 5 km north of Alghero. In addition to fine golden sand and warm waves, Burantin is famous for its bizarre shape, very reminiscent of a heart.

Regardless of which beach tourists choose for relaxation, they are guaranteed a great mood and plenty of entertainment. On the beach you can go yachting, boating or water skiing, scuba diving, and try your hand at surfing. There are many bars on the beaches where you can order a cocktail and have a small snack.



You can also rent equipment for water sports here. Moreover, an experienced instructor will certainly teach diving or surfing to everyone. Even if a vacationer is going to stand on the board for the first time, success and a lot of impressions will certainly await him.

Entertainment

After relaxing on the beach and visiting the sights, tourists will probably be looking for something else to see in Alghero. There is plenty of entertainment here. For a family outing, it is recommended to visit Luna Park, which is located on the territory of the port.

Children will be delighted by a trip to the aquarium - this wonderful fauna museum is located in the city. Here you will see huge turtles, moray eels, poisonous stone fish, sharks and many more unusual tropical fish.

You can have a great time on horseback riding, traveling on a yacht or canoe.

There is also entertainment for adults here. There are many nightclubs and lively night discos on Sulis Square. Particular attention should be paid to the clubs: Maracaibo Cocktail Bar and Bar Gilbert. Here you can not only have a lot of fun, but also try great cocktails.

Before deciding where to stay in Alghero, choose your preferred comfort level and calculate your budget. Remember that the cost of accommodation is affected by the distance of the hotel from the beach and city center. It is also important what features of accommodation the hotel offers (all inclusive, breakfast only, no meals).



If your goal is to relax inexpensively, it makes sense to choose three-star hotels in Sardinia in Alghero.

Thus, accommodation at Hotel Villa Piras is estimated at approximately 90 euros. This hotel is located in a quiet area, just a 20-minute walk from the city center.

Domominore also offers budget rooms (about 80 euros). This option is suitable for those who want to stay close to the airport. In this case, the long distance to the city center may be inconvenient.

The Pa Blanc Hotel offers rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a shared kitchen. This accommodation option will appeal to couples with children, because in the kitchen you can always prepare a suitable dish for the child.

More comfortable rooms are offered in 4-star hotels. In these apartments, the cost per night varies between 130-170 euros. Among the most popular:

Hotel Corte Rosada;

Hotel Portoconte;

Hotel Oasis (located near Marina Pia beach).

Anyone who is used to relaxing in style will certainly appreciate 5-star hotels with top-level service. Accommodation price per night - from 190 euros. The list of such hotels included:

• Villa Las Tronas Hotel & Spa.

As a rule, such hotels offer all-inclusive services, so guests are unlikely to lack anything.



A holiday in Alghero (as well as throughout the island of Sardinia) can be called a real trip to paradise. In addition to the mild climate and breathtaking scenery, tourists will find entertainment for every taste and budget.

The walled city of Alghero is located on the west coast of the island of Sardinia. A more down-to-earth atmosphere prevails here than on the opposite Emerald Coast of the island - so much so that you feel more like you are in Catalonia than in Italy.

In fact, the coastal walls and defensive towers around the historic city center were built by the Catalans in the 16th century, and many residents still speak the language of that era. However, Sardinia has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and evidence of this is the stone structure of the Nuraghe Palmavera, discovered near the city. Another legacy of the Nuragic era is the necropolis of Angelo Rui, located near Alghero Fertilia airport.

To the south of the airport is the sandy Maria Pia beach, which stretches to Alghero harbour. There are many beach hotels, bars and restaurants all along the beach, serving delicious seafood dishes, including local lobster dishes. You can take a boat trip along the coast to Neptune's Cave, next to which is another Nereo Cave - probably the largest sea cave in the Mediterranean and a popular diving site.

It is also worth taking a stroll along the pedestrian streets of the Old Town, full of shops and cafes with outdoor terraces. Alghero's attractions include the medieval castle Palazzo d'Albis and the cathedral, which combines various architectural styles.

the site offers a selection of different accommodation options - from five-star hotels with a swimming pool to inexpensive hostels, as well as various apartments with parking.

A trip to the city of Alghero and why it was repainted pink. Beaches, attractions and sunsets for the last 3 days in Sardinia.

I was able to solve the riddle of the color pink only when I started writing this story, and when I solved it I found even more pink in this city.

I’ll reveal a not-so-big secret right away. In 2017, the 100th anniversary cycling race Giro d'Italia started in Alghero and for some reason the official color was pink. In honor of this event, figures of pink bicycles were installed in large numbers in the city, and where there were not enough bicycles, only wheels were hung.

We will return to pink later, but now, as is tradition, technical information on how to get there and where to find accommodation.

How to get to Alghero

Most tourists fly into the city of Alghero, but there are also those who travel around Sardinia, like me, by public transport. I will try to please both categories.

1. : the choice of options is not large - ALFA city bus for 1 €, intercity bus Sassari-Alghero-Bosa for 1.3 €. It is better not to use the latter - there is a risk of going in the wrong direction, it costs more and travels less often. For those who love comfort, I will offer an option for 50 € and you will be greeted with an honorary plaque at the airport.
2. Sassari-Alghero: There is no direct transport from other major cities and all travelers on their own will first arrive in Sassari to go to Alghero. The two cities are connected by ARST trains and buses. Train timetable and bus timetable. The fare is the same 3.1€.

Finding accommodation in Alghero

I’ll give you the now standard advice on finding accommodation in Sardinia, because this is already the fourth city where I’m staying overnight on the island.

1. Hotels: It will help you choose a hotel and not overpay. The site does not book accommodation, but indicates where to book cheaper. Take advantage and reduce the price from 10 to 20%.
2. Apartments: An option for those who want to experience the real Italy and feel like a local. How I managed to do this, read the story. The most convenient way to find and book is at.

Sights of Alghero in 1 day

This was the last city on the trip to Sardinia and already tired of hiking in the mountains and sightseeing, I wanted to take a break and devote more time to the sea. Living in the historical center of the city turned out to be an excellent decision, because all the attractions are within walking distance, and the sea is 10-15 minutes on foot.

Since I titled the section with the word Attractions, let’s start with them. Often my stories begin with leaving the apartment, but this time we’ll start from the station. We arrived in Alghero from the city of Sassari by train early in the morning and spent the entire day before and after moving into our rented apartment in the historical center.

As soon as you get off the train, right next to the station is the historic Chapel of St. Agostino Vecchio (Chiesa Sant’Agostino Vecchio). Like many monuments far removed from the crowds of tourists, this monument has fallen into oblivion.

The road from the railway station to the city center runs along the embankment where we will return in the evening to catch the last sun and watch the sunset.

At the end of the embankment we came across a strange, as it seemed at that time, monument to a bicycle in Pink. Pink is so pink, maybe another modern cultural figure decided to stand out like that, was the first thought. Only later does it become clear that the idea was wrong and bicycles and the color pink begin to appear at every step.

Fort La Maddalena - Forte della Maddalena

There are still a few hours before moving into the apartment and there is time to see the remains of the defensive fort, which begins almost immediately after the end of the embankment.

Porta Terra Tower - Torre di Porta Terra

Not everything is so sad and not everything has fallen apart. The defensive wall and towers are still in place, but the main tower, the Porta Terra Tower, which served as the gate for arrivals from Sassari, stands alone.

The three flags at the top of the tower, if you try to make sense of them, can cause a slight breakdown of patterns and logic.

I’ll try to describe the flag of Italy, everything is logical here, because Sardinia is just an island and is part of the country, but how can the flag of Sardinian nationalism coexist with this flag? This is the first break in the pattern. But there is also a third flag - this is the flag of the city, here too, at first glance, everything is logical, but the townspeople consider themselves a little Barcelona and therefore their flag is very similar to the Barcelona one.

So whose side are the city residents on - For Italy, For Barcelona or For Independent Sardinia? This is probably European tolerance and I don’t understand it.

Maddalena Tower - Torre della Maddalena

The Porta Terra tower is not the only one that has survived; there are several more nearby. The closest is the Maddalena Tower (Torre della Maddalena). The tower has a second name - the Garibaldi Tower, which was here in 1855. Apparently this was a significant event.

At the corner of the defensive wall is almost the only one covered with a dome with the simple name of the Watchtower. The thought immediately comes to mind that in the 16th century workers’ rights were respected or there was a union of guards that fought for human working conditions and defended a canopy for themselves for convenient service.

Stop running along the wall, you need to climb onto it. We go up along the found passage and again there is a new tower. Here everything is as simple as with the previous one, both with the name and with the purpose - this is a powder tower.

A couple of photos of defensive guns on top of the wall.

Belvedere Alghero

We almost reached the apartment, but stopped at the most picturesque place in the city. This outcropping in the sea is great for a meeting or just relaxing. I will show photos from this place both during the day and in the evening, because due to the proximity of the apartment we have been here more than once.

We go out onto the street leading to the apartment and check in, and after 2 hours we will continue our walk.

I wrote a separate story about the apartment and colorfully described how the spirit of Italy lives in it, but I missed one photo. This set of women's underwear was hanging by the window of a neighboring apartment, why isn't this real life in Italy?

Pink Alghero

I’ll put this in a separate section and present all the photos of the pink shades of the city at once. Let's start with bicycles.

There will always be someone who wants to stand out or is simply out of touch. How else to explain the blue color of this bike when everything around is pink?

When there were no more bicycles to repaint, the city began to be decorated with wheels, because there are always at least twice as many wheels as there are bicycles.

Wheels also tend to run out and then we take and paint the clothes pink.

After such an abundance of pink, even the old facades of the buildings seemed to have known about the holiday for 50 years and were preparing for it.

Church of St. Michael – Chiesa San Michele

It's time to return to the sights, but to the pink ones. What do you think of the pink Church of St. Michael? We looked inside and suddenly it was pink, but everything turned out to be standard.

Since we touched on one church, let’s go over all the others. They are located not far from each other and it makes no sense to describe the road between them.

Alghero Cathedral - Cattedrale di Santa Maria

Let's start, or rather continue, with the main church of the city. The central entrance does not at all resemble the name of the main entrance and reminds of this only by its size.

It is worth looking at the cathedral from the back, where the bell tower is attached to it and the view becomes completely different. Entrance to the bell tower costs 3 €, but it’s difficult to get there due to shortened opening hours 10:30-13:00/19:00-21:30. In winter, visiting hours are even shorter.

Church and monastery of San Francesco

This is a complex of buildings with a church and a monastery adjacent to it. We didn’t figure out how to get to the monastery, and in reality we didn’t even know that it existed. Inside, everything is as usual except for a funny installation of the ancient life of the city or a biblical event in miniature.

There is nothing to write about the remaining churches and it will be completely boring, so just look at the photos.

Tower of Torre di Sulis

We finished our walk through the historical city just as we started from the tower, but at the other end of the city. It sounds like it is far away, but in fact it is only 500m from the apartment.

We return to the apartment to take a break from the heat, but the day is not over for today. We are planning to go for a walk before sunset along the promenade.

Having rested, we moved towards the sea and on the way we noticed an interesting sculpture with the Nationalist flag. Tourists are actively taking pictures with it - it seems like this is a great move to promote nationalism when tourists spread photos of your symbols around the world.

We return to the apartment along the streets illuminated by lanterns.

What to see in Alghero on days 2 and 3

The answer to this question will be simple - let's go explore the city beaches. We spent the first of two days on the beaches, which are easily accessible on foot or by ALFA bus for 1€. More details about all the beaches visited in the hotel article -.

Beaches of San Giovanni and Maria Pia

Bombarde and Lazzaretto beaches

On the second day there were beaches that you need to take an intercity bus for 1.3 €. We also combined these beaches with the Palmavera Nuraghe.

That's my whole program for visiting the city of Alghero in 3 days. This is certainly not enough, but how can there be a lot of sea for those who were born and live far from it?

How to get to Alghero

Alghero is a major resort and historic city in northwestern Sardinia. There is everything for a comfortable holiday, from snow-white beaches to all kinds of entertainment. In the old part of Alghero you can find a lot of historical monuments and attractions, while in the new part there are hotels, restaurants, cafes, diving and surfing schools, an aquarium, as well as a spacious coastline.

Alghero has a local arrival airport, but there are no flights from Russia here, so the closest place you can fly from Moscow is the city of Olbia, also located in the north of the island. The distance between Olbia airport and Alghero is about 125 km. There are several direct flights per week from Moscow to Olbia in the summer. The flight time is 4 hours 15 minutes, flights depart from Domodedovo Airport. You can also fly to Olbia with a transfer in European cities on any day of the week. Flight schedules can be viewed on aggregators Aviasales , Buruki and others.

How to get from Olbia to Alghero

From Olbia Airport to Alghero you can use public transport. For example, a direct company bus runs from the airport three times a day Sun Lines, The travel time will be a little over three hours. This is a convenient option, but only if your flight schedule coincides with the bus schedule, since there are only 3 bus services per day to Alghero.

You can also get to the resort by taxi or transfer. You can find a taxi car when leaving the airport, or you can order individual transfer services in advance, then the car and driver will already be waiting for you by the time of arrival. You can find information on transfers and book a suitable option on various international services, such as , and others similar.

Alternatively, you can rent a car at Olbia Airport and drive to Alghero on your own. In this case, you will need a basic package of documents - an international driver's license, a passport, a bank card to pay for services and block the deposit. You can read more in the article on . Olbia Airport and Alghero are connected by highways No. SS597/SS729 and SS729 (distance - 126 km, approximate travel time - 1 hour 25 minutes).

wiseguy71/Alghero, view from the water

Alghero Hotels

In Alghero, all hotels are divided into city (within the old city) and beach (on the coast). In the first case, bed and breakfast hotels, intended for short-term accommodation, are more popular. In the second case, 4* and 5* hotels, as well as apartments, predominate.

The following hotels are great for a beach holiday:

• AlmadiAlgheroHotel 4* (first beach line, outdoor swimming pool with hydromassage on the roof, bar, family rooms, meals - breakfast, private paid parking, free Wi-Fi);

• HotelCalabona 4* (adult and children's pools, restaurant, private beach, bar, buffet breakfast, free private parking);

• Hotel &ResidenceEuropa 3* (located 100 m from the beach, has family rooms with free Wi-Fi, breakfast is paid extra, you can choose to stay in standard rooms, studios or apartments with one or more bedrooms);

• HotelElBalear 3* (located in the city center, but has access to a small concrete beach, the hotel has a restaurant, bar, meals - breakfast or half board, there is free public parking nearby).

Some of the best-reviewed budget accommodation options also include:

• B&BaCasadaMarco (bed and breakfast hotel, located near the beach, free Wi-Fi, meals - breakfast);

• L`EderadiGavinaGuestHouse (guest house located on the waterfront, 100 meters from the beach, free Wi-Fi and free parking included).

Francesca Cappa/Views of Sardinia

Sights of Alghero

Alghero is not just a beach resort; there are quite a lot of preserved historical and archaeological monuments here, so the city is great for sightseeing. Historic center of Alghero consists of architectural monuments from different eras: there are medieval city fortress and gates, churches and temples in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. On the streets of Alghero you can also find a considerable number of elegant palazzos, sort of mini-palaces. These include, in particular, Palazzo Carcassone, Palazzo Makin, Palazzo Serra, Palazzo Lavagna, Palazzo Civico, Palazzo Balata and Palazzo Simon - all of which are interesting architectural objects.

For archaeological sights of the city, it is better to go to its surroundings. Yes, in small settlements of Palmavera and Sant'Imbenia ancient mysterious nuraghes are located. It is believed that the local nuraghes are more than a thousand years old.

Among the natural attractions in Alghero are interesting Cape Capo Caccia and located underneath Neptune's grotto. You can get into the grotto only in complete calm using a special staircase leading directly from the parking lot on the cape. Inside the grotto there are bizarre stalagmites and stalactites. In summer, the attraction is extremely popular among tourists. Of course, one of the main natural attractions of Alghero is its beaches; more about them below.

Teresa Grau Ros/On the streets of Alghero

The beaches of Alghero are picturesque strips of sand by the sea, partly hidden in bays, partly stretching for several hundred meters. The coverage of the local beaches is white sand, as in almost all of Sardinia, the entrance to the sea is gentle, and in some places corals can be found off the coast. Most beaches are free, apart from a few private areas owned by hotels. On the beaches of Alghero you can find various water activities everywhere - rental of catamarans, scooters, water skis. There are also several diving, surfing and kiting schools off the coast; all three sports are very popular in Sardinia, and in Alghero in particular.

The most popular beaches in Alghero are Spiaggia delle Bombarde(a bay framed by low rocks, the beach is covered with fine white sand, entry into the water is gradual ), Spiaggia di Maria Pia(white sandy spacious beach, fairly extensive shallow waters off the coast), Spiaggia di S. Giovanni(a round bay with a gentle entrance to the sea, there is an equipped area for sun loungers and umbrellas), Lidobeach(the most popular city beach, spacious, stretching for several hundred meters, covered with white sand, ideal for families with children).

Unlike other parts of Sardinia, where the beaches are hidden far from populated areas, in Alghero there are no special problems in getting to the beach. Even if your hotel is located far from the coast, you can always get there by public transport, which distinguishes Alghero from other resorts on the island.

toastbrot81/Beaches of Alghero