Why You Need to Add Alghero to your Sardinia Itinerary

Alghero is a vibrant and beautiful port town, located on the north west coast of Italy’s amazing island Sardinia. Here you will find an impressive historic old town, surrounded by large stone sea walls dating back to the 16th century and gorgeous views of the Mediterranean ocean, especially during sunset.

While visiting Sardinia in September 2024, we knew a day trip to Alghero was a must. We had visited Sardinia the prior spring and enjoyed our time in the small but bustling town. Although it was a fairly long drive from where we were staying near Olbia, we woke up early and headed west to experience some of the best sights Alghero had to offer.

We spent the afternoon roaming the old town streets, stoping to look into the local shops along the way and sitting on the terrace of cafe’s when we needed to rest.

The beauty of Alghero’s old town.

Alghero has a few churches you can visit, we chose to explore the Cathedral of St. Mary the Immaculate. Built in 1567, it showcases the unique Catalan Gothic Style with ornate marble and stone statues inside. An addition was added to the facade in 1862, which changed the exterior aesthetic to a more Neoclassical style. Visiting the church is free and doesn’t take long to see.

Statues designed by Giuseppe Massetti.

Another interesting attraction that we accidentally stumbled upon is a small commune of feral cats that live near the shoreline of the city. Here there are signs posted that remind you not to feed the animals, they are well taken care of though, each cat has a small “cat house” near the rocks. We managed to capture one sleeping in the warm sun bathed rocks.

If you are looking for unique souvenirs, Alghero has a number of shops to choose from and a wide array of locally made goods. Some of the most famous locally produced items include ceramics, gold and silver filigree jewelry, bright orange and blue coral jewelry and hand made knives. Woven goods are also abundant here, from handmade baskets to beautifully woven rugs and tapestries. There is truly something for everyone!

Windows of Alghero

Where to Eat in Alghero, Sardinia

For dinner, there are a number of highly rated restaurants to choose from. Here are a few of our suggestions.

• Prosciutteria Sant Miquel
  • Via Misericordia, 20, 07041 Alghero SS, Italy
• Trattoria Da Mirko Via Gioberti,
  • 54/56, 07041 Alghero SS, Italy
• Alamo
  • Via Ambrogio Machin, 20, 07041 Alghero SS, Italy

The perfect way to end your day in Alghero, is enjoying sunset from the old city walls.

Alghero is a perfect excursion to add to your next Sardinian vacation. With its beautiful winding streets in the old town centre, amazing restaurants and beautiful views of the Mediterranean sea. Be sure to add Alghero to your itinerary when exploring Italy!

Related Posts: Alghero, Sardinia Travel Guide