Alghero is a lovely town not only for its sandy and wonderful beaches, for its amazing cliffs, its beautiful marina and the romantic Ramparts promenade along the sea, but also for its medieval city centre, its archaeological sites, its Catalan culture and its high quality coral handcraft.
A long history that starts from the Neolithic Age, passing through the Roman Age, the Doria Genoese family foundation of the actual town in XII century, the Catalan conquest (1354) and the strong fortification of the city, continuing with the long Spanish domination with the famous visit of the Emperor Carlo V (1541) and getting to the more recent Austrian and Savoy dominations until our days.
That why visiting the historical centre of Alghero is indeed a unique experience:
- take a walk along the Catalan-Aragonese towers: Torre di Porta Terra (a top floor terrace offers panoramic view) and Torre Sulis;
- the Renaissance and Baroque churches: Chiesa di San Francesco (the oldest one with its tranquil cloister perfect scenery for summer concerts), Cathedral of Santa Maria (mix of different styles from XVI to XIX with an ancient doric-columned frontage and its Catalan-gothic belfry dominating the old town) and Chiesa di San Michele (with its colored cupola, made in the 50s by Antoni Simon Mossa, one of the symbol of the city).
Visit the Civic Theatre (made in 1862, the only theatre in Sardinia that preserves the original wooden load- bearing structure) and the main museums of the city:
- Museo Civico (set in an ancient building of the historic centre called “Carceretto”, collects archaeological finds from the Neolithic to the Middle Age);
- Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art (located in the former Rosario church, array of priceless religious art and African sacred paintings and art works);
- Coral Museum (inside a Liberty-style villa, shows the history of our Mediterranean Sea through the main resources of the territory, the “Corallium Rubrum');
- Aquario Marenostrum the largest exhibition of marine and fresh water fishes in Sardinia and tropical fishes.