Alghero, Sardegna: A Slice of Heaven by the Sea
The Port of Alghero, Sardegna
To put it simply, Alghero is not only a seaside city . . . Alghero is an ancient bastion of all things wonderful located on the northwestern corner of Sardegna. Stories, legends, and different ancient civilizations have left their mark on Alghero over the centuries. Even today, each aspect of the city still bears the history of earlier times.
The sea is the soul of the city. Along the shoreline, you have a wide range of beaches and lovely solitary bays to choose from. Here you can enjoy all kinds of sports: from windsurfing, kite-surfing, water-skiing, kayaking, to diving. Not to miss are Neptune’s Caves. Either accessible by sea or through the famous Escala del Cabirol (a staircase composed of 656 steps), your efforts will be rewarded by unique and breathtaking views.
The Old City's culture and tradition is mirrored perfectly in the architecture, cuisine, and, above all, the people's important linguistic heritage. Founded as a military stronghold, Alghero grew tremendously through the arrival of Catalan colonists. In the early sixteenth century, it received the status of King's City (Ciutat de l'Alguer) and began to prosper economically. Otherwise known as Barceloneta, "little Barcelona," the citizens of Alghero, known as the “Algheresi," still speak and preserve the use of Catalan, which is recognized by the Italian State as a minority language.
To get in touch with tastes and flavors of Alghero, I suggest that you discover the town's fresh local products and pay close attention to both food vendors' and chefs' advice, which will make all the difference in the world. The city's culinary tradition consists of ancient and simple Mediterranean recipes along with some refined variations. The city's most traditional dishes are composed of fresh seafood, lobster, fried fish in an agliata (garlic) sauce, fresh sea urchins eaten with a spoon with local bread. You can accompany your meal with a glass of Vermentino di Gallura, a good local white wine and then finish with a Catalan cream as dessert.
Guest piece for Nello's Italy by Silvia Pe, Italian travel lover and a compulsive reader living in Sardegna. She works in the tourism field for CharmingSardinia.com and writes for the blog CharmingItaly.com, where she shares information about Italy. You can reach her on Facebook, Twitter, and Stubleupon.
Reference: Alghero | Picture reference: Regione Sardegna
The sea is the soul of the city. Along the shoreline, you have a wide range of beaches and lovely solitary bays to choose from. Here you can enjoy all kinds of sports: from windsurfing, kite-surfing, water-skiing, kayaking, to diving. Not to miss are Neptune’s Caves. Either accessible by sea or through the famous Escala del Cabirol (a staircase composed of 656 steps), your efforts will be rewarded by unique and breathtaking views.
The Old City's culture and tradition is mirrored perfectly in the architecture, cuisine, and, above all, the people's important linguistic heritage. Founded as a military stronghold, Alghero grew tremendously through the arrival of Catalan colonists. In the early sixteenth century, it received the status of King's City (Ciutat de l'Alguer) and began to prosper economically. Otherwise known as Barceloneta, "little Barcelona," the citizens of Alghero, known as the “Algheresi," still speak and preserve the use of Catalan, which is recognized by the Italian State as a minority language.
To get in touch with tastes and flavors of Alghero, I suggest that you discover the town's fresh local products and pay close attention to both food vendors' and chefs' advice, which will make all the difference in the world. The city's culinary tradition consists of ancient and simple Mediterranean recipes along with some refined variations. The city's most traditional dishes are composed of fresh seafood, lobster, fried fish in an agliata (garlic) sauce, fresh sea urchins eaten with a spoon with local bread. You can accompany your meal with a glass of Vermentino di Gallura, a good local white wine and then finish with a Catalan cream as dessert.
Guest piece for Nello's Italy by Silvia Pe, Italian travel lover and a compulsive reader living in Sardegna. She works in the tourism field for CharmingSardinia.com and writes for the blog CharmingItaly.com, where she shares information about Italy. You can reach her on Facebook, Twitter, and Stubleupon.
Reference: Alghero | Picture reference: Regione Sardegna
