Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

120  SARDINIA AREA B Y AREA

1 Street-by-Street: Alghero

In the early 12th century, the aristocratic Doria family from
Genoa decided to establish two strongholds in Sardinia,
which became Castelgenovese (now Castelsardo) and
Alghero. Because of the abundant quantities of algae off
the coast, the latter city was named Alquerium – s’Alighera
in Sardinian dialect and l’Alquer in Catalan. After a very . San Francesco
Parts of this jewel of Catalan
short period of Pisan rule, Alghero was conquered by the architecture date back to the first
Aragonese in 1353, and has always been the most Spanish half of the 14th century. The lovely
city on the island. The old centre lies within the ancient cloister becomes an open-air
fortified quarter and the local economy is based on concert venue in summer.
tourism and handicrafts – particularly jewellery and
other items made of coral.

Porta Terra tower

Sign in Catalan
The street signs in Alghero
are still written in Catalan.
PIA ZZ A
CIVIC A
The Maddalena tower and ramparts

V I A P. U M B E R T O

A
M
M A G E L L A N O
O
R
A
I
V
B A S T I O N I
Alghero Marina
Via Garibaldi starts at the marina and runs
alongside Alghero’s long, sandy beach M A R C O
towards the lido and Fertilia.
B A S T I O N I

Torre di Sant’Erasmo
. Duomo Doors
Built in the mid-1500s, Torre della Polveriera
the carved doorway,
together with Key
the bell tower, is
the oldest part of Suggested route
Alghero’s cathedral.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p178 and p188

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