Italy’s renowned cities like Rome, Florence and Milan captivate millions, however, if you want to escape the crowds then look no further than this picturesque city. The enchanting medieval city of Alghero is located on the northwest coast of Sardinia and is home to one of the most attractive coastal resorts on the Italian island.
Encircled by ancient walls, Alghero was formerly a Catalan enclave and its heritage is reflected in its architecture, traditions and food. It was founded in the 12th century as a Genoese colony and later came under Catalan rule in the 14th century. The cobbled streets here still have a distinctive Catalan character and, to this day, the locals speak a Catalan dialect. It is the only Italian town where the Catalan language is still spoken.
Although it is visited by tens of thousands of people every year who flock to the city to explore its picturesque beaches and distinctive culture Alghero has managed to remain somewhat of a hidden gem and has kept its traditional culture.
It is almost impossible not to fall in love with the city’s old town, Alghero Vecchia, which charms visitors with its narrow, cobbled streets, terracotta-topped buildings and string of historic sites. It is surrounded by seven great towers and the old walls that still stand at the sea edge.
With so many excellent bars and restaurants, the historic old town’s winding streets are the perfect place to hang out and are ideal to use as a base for exploring.
Alghero’s golden sea walls, built around the centro storico by the Aragonese in the 16th century, are a highlight of the town’s historic cityscape and are a must see.
Boasting crystal-clear water, golden fine sand and turquoise water Alghero is surrounded by dreamy beaches from north to south and seaside resorts like Asinara or Stintino.
The Bombarde beach is one of Alghero’s most famous beaches, surrouned by a luxuriant pine forest and with a range of bars and restuarants it is easy to see why it is so popular. Stretching 0.6 miles the beach is so beautiful that you be mistaken for thinking you are in the Caribbean.
With its crystal clear waters and picturesque rocky outcrops Lazzaretto beach has caves nearby that are breathtakingly beautiful which are perfect for those who want to do a spot of exploring.