Alghero

Alghero is a town of 41,765 inhabitants in the province of Sassari, in Sardinia, Italy. It lies about 28 km south-west of Sassari, the provincial capital.

The municipality covers 224.43 km², with a density of 186 inhabitants per km².

The nearest airport is Alghero (AHO), about 10 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.

A short history

Founded in the twelfth century by the Genoese Doria family, Alghero was conquered in 1353 by the Crown of Aragon, which expelled the inhabitants and repopulated it with Catalans. A form of Catalan is still spoken here, and the town is nicknamed Barceloneta. The Spanish sea walls and towers enclose the old centre. It passed with the rest of Sardinia to the Savoy in 1720.

Events and festivals

Holy Week follows Catalan rites: on Good Friday the Desclavament, the taking down of Christ from the cross, is followed by a procession by the light of red lanterns. New Year's Eve, the Cap d'Any, is one of the largest street parties in Sardinia, with concerts and fireworks over the harbour. In summer the bastions host music festivals, and in late winter a sea urchin festival is held.

Getting there

Alghero has its own airport, Fertilia, ten kilometres from the town, with flights from the Italian mainland and several European cities; a bus meets the arrivals. A small railway and frequent buses link it to Sassari in about forty minutes. Ferries for northern Sardinia land at Porto Torres, forty kilometres away. A car is the best way to reach Capo Caccia and the beaches.

Alghero on the map

Nearby towns

All towns in the province of Sassari →