Alghero

Alghero is a beautiful coastal town situated in the north west of Sardinia. It is also known as La Riviera del Corallo ( the coral coast) because here you can find a lot of red coral which is used by the best craftsmen to make marvelous jewellery.
The town was founded in 1102 by the Doria family from Genoa to increase trade between Genoa and north Sardinia. It then fell under Pisan rule, in the mid 14th century the town was sacked by the Catalan Aragonese from Spain. To this day the Spanish influence lives on, the locals speak Catalan and Italian, and street signs are also bilingual. The architecture too is unmistakably Spanish, giving the town a unique character.

It is said the name Alghero originally comes from the word algae or seaweed which once washed up on the shores in great quantities. Today this part of the coastline boasts beautiful sandy beaches such as St. Giovanni’s beach which is 5 km long and a short walk from the town centre, other beaches to visit are Le Bombarde and Lazzaretto.

Alghero has tourism all year round and is the biggest tourist centre in Sardinia. Not far from the town centre is the cove of Porto Conte  which represents one of the most beautiful natural sceneries of Sardinia. It faces the breathtaking promontory of Capo Caccia with a lighthouse perched on the outermost point. The name Capo Caccia derives from the wild pigeon hunting that was once popular here. Recently this area was made a natural park, since then many species of birds have returned and repopulated their original habitat. 
Another spot for those who appreciate natural beauty is the Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune’s Grotto). It can be reached by boat. There is a 656 step staircase also known as the Escala del Cabirol, which will take your breath away and leave you a little breathless too!
The grotto was first explored in the 18th century, it extends for 2,500m however the guided tour covers just 200 m. It is a highly recommended trip.
Alghero is surrounded by vineyards, the most renowned being Sella & Mosca. Tasting these local wines is a must for any wine lover.