Planning to travel to Sardinia? Don’t miss one of Sardinia’s most beautiful and interesting cities. Just minutes from the Fertilia airport, Alghero has charming streets, an exciting waterfront, and a fascinating history. Here's a list of what you don't want to miss when you're visiting Alghero.
Grotta di Nettuno
On the top of our list is the Grotta di Nettuno, an ancient, half-submerged cave just a 40 minute boat ride from the Alghero waterfront. Formed from Sardinia’s primordial rock the cave is home to many spectacular and bizarre rock formations. The boat ride offers tourists a view of Capo Caccia and some of Sardinia’s pure green waters. The adventurous can opt to take bus, and hike into the park and descend a spiraling staircase to reach the cave. It currently costs €10 to visit the interior of the cave where the most spectacular formations can be seen.
Anghelu Ruju
Sardinia's ancient past
Some of the first recorded inhabitants of Sardinia were the Ozieri culture of the Late Neolithic. A village and necropolis from this era can be seen at nearby Anghelu Ruju, one of the best preserved examples of this culture. Anghelu Ruju sits about five km outside Alghero, just to the east of Fertilia airport. Last time I was there, the charge to visit was €10.
Nuraghe Palmavera
The later Nuraghic people appear in the area somewhere around 1500BC. This was a patriarchal warrior society and their circular stone towers or nuraghe are found dotting the countryside all over Sardinia. A well preserved example can be seen at Nuraghe di Palmavera located between Fertilia and Capo Caccia.
Alghero city walls
The geographical layout of Alghero means that the old town is surrounded by the Mediterranean on three sides. The old city walls, or bastioni, were constructed along this perimeter to guard against seaborne threats from pirates and invaders. Sardinia’s location in the prime ancient Mediterranean trade routes made it a prize for every seafaring group.
Alghero itself was nothing more than a small fishing port until 1102 when the Doria family of Genoa arrived and began building the “modern” fortified Alghero. Their rule lasted until 1353 when a joint force of Aragonese and Venetians captured the town after the defeat of the Genoans at Porte Conte, northwest of Alghero.
The city walls were continually updated and strengthened throughout the Aragonese, and later Catalan periods. Starting from the Lungomare Dante road to the south and finishing at the Bastione La Maddalena in the north, the ramparts are interspersed with defensive towers: Torre di San Giacomo, Torre della Polveriera and Torre di Sant'Erasmo.
A stroll along the walls, with the superb views out to Cappo Caccia, makes for a relaxing and breezy alternative to the narrow lanes encountered within the old town. The city walls are especially popular in the evenings when Alghero's westerly facing aspect means that the stunning sunsets can be enjoyed from one of the many bars, cafes or restaurants that line the route.
Best Beaches in Sardinia
Beach lovers will definitely not want to miss the beaches of Le Bombarde and Lazzaretto, just minutes outside of Alghero and easily reached by major roads. These beaches fill up on summer weekends with tourists and families so get there early to grab a prime spot.
Lazzaretto and Le Bombarde are just north and west of the city and can be reached by following the SS127bis west out of Alghero and through Fertilia. You’ll see a sign at the left turnoff for Bombarde. Try parking along the road or in one of the small lots. Worst case scenario, you’ll have to walk a bit to get there.
If you continue along the coastal road, you’ll get to Lazaretto, one of the best beaches in Sardinia. The breeze is mild and the beach is protected by a headland, so even when the powerful maestrale blows, Lazaretto is protected from the brunt. Parking is a challenge here as well, so get there early on busy summer weekends and try to park on the road. Busses from Alghero stop here as well, which is a good alternative to driving. Visit us here for more opportunities to travel for free!
Showing posts with label Grotta Di Nettuno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grotta Di Nettuno. Show all posts
Monday
Sardinia Travel Guide's 1 day itinerary: Alghero
In my quest to bring the wonders of traveling Sardinia to the English-speaking traveler, I’m introducing a new feature: the X-day itinerary. Since many travelers are daytrippers from Sicily and Corsica, weekenders from Britain or mainland Italy, I want to feature itineraries that the average Sardinia tourist might find interesting. Please feel free to leave opinions in the comments. I might even respond. To kick everything off, I bring you:
Sardinia Travel Guide: Alghero: a 1-day itinerary.
Alghero is one of my favorite Sardinian destinations. To me, it embodies both Sardinia’s ancient and often violent history with modern vibrancy. Many tourists (myself included) take advantage of Ryanair’s cheap London flights to Alghero’s Fertilia airport. For convenience (my own) I’m going to assume you’ve taken the earliest flight and have arrived in time for breakfast. Great!
Rent a car, take the bus, hitchhike over to Via Garibaldi, along the busy waterfront. It shouldn’t be hard as most of the roads through the city dead-end at the port. Grab yourself a caffe e latte and a pastry at any of the bars along the way and start walking towards the fortress.
Visiting the Grotta di Nettuno
Topping my list of top 5 things to see in Sardinia is the spectacular Neptune’s Grotto, a sea cavern carved from a sheer granite cliff. It boasts winding tunnels and spectacular stalactite formations.
The best way to see it is to take one of the boats you’ll see tied up along the waterfront. The tour operators will most-likely speak English so be sure to ask what the conditions are and whether the boat will be able to dock at the cave. This way you’ll get to see the spectacular coastline along Capo Caccia along with the cave.
Your second option if the boats aren’t running, or if you prefer the hike is to take the bus (buy tickets at the Tourist Office in Piazza Porta Terra) and climb down the 650+ steps along the cliff to the cave at the bottom. The bonus here is that you’ll see the views from the top. The obvious con is that you’ll have to drag yourself up 650+ steps.
Whichever way you get there, give yourself 2-3 hours to enjoy the outing. Which will bring us to lunch.
I’m a fan of a slice of pizza on the run, eaten along the fortress wall, but if you’d like lunch with a view, check out Al Vecchio Mulino, with seating on the terrace overlooking the water on Via Don Deroma. Order the 4 Stagioni, it’s brilliant. Try it with a bottle of Ichnusa, Sardinia’s local brew. Named for the Phoenician word for Sardinia, it’s really the only Italian beer worth drinking.
Afternoons, especially in the summer, are sleepy, with most of the locals heading home for lunch and a snooze. Take this time to wander around the old city walls, dating back to the 1100s. Originally built when Alghero was first founded as a Genoese colony, they were expanded at various time in the 1300s under Aragonese and then Catalan rule.
If you’re running from the heat, be sure to visit the Cathedral of St. Mary (Cattedrale di Santa Maria), who’s bell tower dominates the walls. You’ll see examples of Catalan-Gothic architecture. Take the time to light a candle and wander around the nave, which is in the Renaissance style. Don’t be put off by the odd modern façade, it was added in the 20th century.
For the rest of the afternoon, I’m giving you two options: continue wandering the streets along the walls, visiting the Torre del Portal di Alghero, a tower built in the 1370s by Catalan Jews, or visiting the beach at Lazaretto.
Lazaretto is one of the two most beautiful beaches in Sardinia. Famous for its mild current and limpid green water, it shows off the Sardinian coastline to its best. Be sure to grab another Ichnusa at one of the beachside bars. To get there take the SS127bis along the coast, from the city center. Buses travel there on the hour in the summer months. Just look for the beach kids in their towels.
After an afternoon of wandering or beach bumming, you’re going to be hungry and in the mood for one of Alghero’s hidden gems: Ristorante Daps.
If you like dining al fresco, then this is the place for you. It’s a bit hidden, over a brook and through the woods, but very worth the effort. You’ll find it on the north-eastern side of the town, on the way back to Fertilia airport. Get there as early as you can, as the outside seating fills up fast.
The best things on the menu are the frutti di mare appetizer, any of the pizzas, or the housecured Sardinian sausage. Pair it with a local Monica di Sardegna (dry red wine) and you’re in gastronomic heaven.
Ristorante Daps.
Via f.lli Cervi, 16 - 079 950050
Nightlife in Alghero is rather limited in the off-season, but if you’re there in the summer, I highly recommend the Miques De Murall club on via Giuseppe Manno, along the seawall. The cocktails are excellent and the music goes all night long. If you’re more into the live music scene, check out Baronda Bar at Piazza della Misericordia.
Ok – that’s it for our first 1-day itinerary. I’m tired already.
Frankie
Sardinia Travel Guide: Alghero: a 1-day itinerary.
Alghero is one of my favorite Sardinian destinations. To me, it embodies both Sardinia’s ancient and often violent history with modern vibrancy. Many tourists (myself included) take advantage of Ryanair’s cheap London flights to Alghero’s Fertilia airport. For convenience (my own) I’m going to assume you’ve taken the earliest flight and have arrived in time for breakfast. Great!
Rent a car, take the bus, hitchhike over to Via Garibaldi, along the busy waterfront. It shouldn’t be hard as most of the roads through the city dead-end at the port. Grab yourself a caffe e latte and a pastry at any of the bars along the way and start walking towards the fortress.
Visiting the Grotta di Nettuno
Topping my list of top 5 things to see in Sardinia is the spectacular Neptune’s Grotto, a sea cavern carved from a sheer granite cliff. It boasts winding tunnels and spectacular stalactite formations.
The best way to see it is to take one of the boats you’ll see tied up along the waterfront. The tour operators will most-likely speak English so be sure to ask what the conditions are and whether the boat will be able to dock at the cave. This way you’ll get to see the spectacular coastline along Capo Caccia along with the cave.
Your second option if the boats aren’t running, or if you prefer the hike is to take the bus (buy tickets at the Tourist Office in Piazza Porta Terra) and climb down the 650+ steps along the cliff to the cave at the bottom. The bonus here is that you’ll see the views from the top. The obvious con is that you’ll have to drag yourself up 650+ steps.
Whichever way you get there, give yourself 2-3 hours to enjoy the outing. Which will bring us to lunch.
I’m a fan of a slice of pizza on the run, eaten along the fortress wall, but if you’d like lunch with a view, check out Al Vecchio Mulino, with seating on the terrace overlooking the water on Via Don Deroma. Order the 4 Stagioni, it’s brilliant. Try it with a bottle of Ichnusa, Sardinia’s local brew. Named for the Phoenician word for Sardinia, it’s really the only Italian beer worth drinking.
Afternoons, especially in the summer, are sleepy, with most of the locals heading home for lunch and a snooze. Take this time to wander around the old city walls, dating back to the 1100s. Originally built when Alghero was first founded as a Genoese colony, they were expanded at various time in the 1300s under Aragonese and then Catalan rule.
If you’re running from the heat, be sure to visit the Cathedral of St. Mary (Cattedrale di Santa Maria), who’s bell tower dominates the walls. You’ll see examples of Catalan-Gothic architecture. Take the time to light a candle and wander around the nave, which is in the Renaissance style. Don’t be put off by the odd modern façade, it was added in the 20th century.
For the rest of the afternoon, I’m giving you two options: continue wandering the streets along the walls, visiting the Torre del Portal di Alghero, a tower built in the 1370s by Catalan Jews, or visiting the beach at Lazaretto.
Lazaretto is one of the two most beautiful beaches in Sardinia. Famous for its mild current and limpid green water, it shows off the Sardinian coastline to its best. Be sure to grab another Ichnusa at one of the beachside bars. To get there take the SS127bis along the coast, from the city center. Buses travel there on the hour in the summer months. Just look for the beach kids in their towels.
After an afternoon of wandering or beach bumming, you’re going to be hungry and in the mood for one of Alghero’s hidden gems: Ristorante Daps.
If you like dining al fresco, then this is the place for you. It’s a bit hidden, over a brook and through the woods, but very worth the effort. You’ll find it on the north-eastern side of the town, on the way back to Fertilia airport. Get there as early as you can, as the outside seating fills up fast.
The best things on the menu are the frutti di mare appetizer, any of the pizzas, or the housecured Sardinian sausage. Pair it with a local Monica di Sardegna (dry red wine) and you’re in gastronomic heaven.
Ristorante Daps.
Via f.lli Cervi, 16 - 079 950050
Nightlife in Alghero is rather limited in the off-season, but if you’re there in the summer, I highly recommend the Miques De Murall club on via Giuseppe Manno, along the seawall. The cocktails are excellent and the music goes all night long. If you’re more into the live music scene, check out Baronda Bar at Piazza della Misericordia.
Ok – that’s it for our first 1-day itinerary. I’m tired already.
Frankie
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