Free walking tours in Alghero and what to see

Must-sees

Alghero is on the north-west coast of Sardinia and is known for its Catalan heritage: after the Aragonese conquest in the 14th century it was resettled with Catalans, and a variety of Catalan is still spoken. The old town is ringed by walls and bastions facing the sea, with towers such as the Torre di Sulis, the Torre di San Giovanni and the Porta a Terra. Inside, the cathedral of Santa Maria stands out, with its Catalan Gothic bell tower, along with the church of San Francesco and its stone cloister. Walking along the bastions at sunset is a local custom.

Outside the town is the Porto Conte nature park, with Capo Caccia, white cliffs above the sea. At its foot is Neptune's Grotto, reached by boat or by walking down the long Escala del Cabirol. For prehistory, the Palmavera nuraghe and the Anghelu Ruju necropolis are a few kilometres away. Red coral is another hallmark of the town, and you will see it in many jewellers' shops in the centre.

Free tours and guided visits

Civitatis does not list a free tour as such; the closest thing is a guided night walk of the old town. The rest of the offer looks to the sea: a sailing trip to Capo Caccia, snorkelling and kayaking at Porto Conte, and a sunset boat trip with an aperitivo. There is also an aperitivo at a local winery with a tasting of Sardinian wines.

How long to spend

The historic centre and the bastions can be seen in half a day. For Neptune's Grotto and Capo Caccia, allow another half day, more if you walk down. With three or four days you can add the nuraghic sites, a boat trip and a beach or two, and in summer Alghero works very well as a base for a week in the north of the island.

Where to stay

Inside the walls there are B&Bs and apartments in old houses, ideal for walking out to dinner. The larger hotels are concentrated along the Lido seafront, near the town beach. If you want peace and quiet, Fertilia and the Porto Conte area have hotels and houses surrounded by pines, a few minutes' drive from the centre.