The seaside town of Alghero is located in the northern part of the island's west coast. Founded in the 12th century, Alghero is surrounded by pine woods, vineyards and orchards. The town's Spanish heritage is reflected in many of its buildings, including the church of San Francesco and the towers and bastions remaining from Spanish fortifications.

In the Old Town narrow, cobbled streets still bear names in both Italian and Catalan. Alghero is very much the tourist capital of the so-called Coral Riviera. Grottoes and caves in the area attract the adventurous visitor for exploration; fishing boats and pleasure craft crowd the colorful harbor; and the crystalline sea is ideal for coral and lobster fishing.

Alghero is a charming old town, measuring 2½ mls from N to S and ¾ ml from E to W. It was walled and fortified by the Catalans and the Spanish, who occupied this corner of Sardinia for 400 years and left a strong impression, not only on the architecture but also the language, traces of which survive. The bastion walls that protected the town from attack by sea have been rebuilt and restored, and are supported by a handful of impressive defensive towers. Within the walls lie the cathedral and a couple of churches, while narrow paved and cobbled streets lead beneath washing and shuttered windows to attractive little squares that are filled with life in the mornings and early evenings. The harbour immediately outside the walls is busy with fishing and pleasure boats. The paved, landscaped esplanade and area along the Lido is lined with typical trattorias and makes for pleasant strolls, taking in the fine sea views.

Suiting middlemarket pockets; popular with independent travellers, particularly those interested in culture, history and architecture.

Almost all hotels are at some distance from the Old Town, with most in the Lido area, near the beach. Those to the S are the easiest to walk to. From the Lido, most people opt for the regular buses to the centre.

The Lido beach is a narrow strip of white sand ½ ml N of the Old Town; it offers sunbeds, parasols, a variety of eateries and bars, and a range of water sports including windsurfing, canoeing, pedalloes, jet-skiing, sailing and scuba diving. Less crowded beaches extend almost unbroken for a further 1 ml; there is also a bus to Lazzaretto, Bombarde or Porto Conte (5 to 10 mls) for more picturesque beaches and magnificent coastal scenery. More far-flung beaches have no amenities.

In the Old Town many jewellers which feature the local speciality, a polished red-brown coral. Also many boutiques, gift shops and stores with local specialities such as wine, cheese and sweets. Carved wood, basketwork, pottery and cork are also available.

Daytime: exploring the historic streets and fine old buildings; small Museum of Sacred Art; water sports; walks in surrounding countryside. Nightlife: muted, revolving mainly around eating and drinking.

The Old Town offers dozens of restaurants serving freshly caught fish, Italian and Sardinian specialities as well as pizzas at reasonable, if not downright cheap, prices. More options facing the harbour and spread along the Lido; the bars only just outnumber the ice-cream parlours.

Local buses are orange and go as far as the airport; long-distance buses are blue. Service is cheap and comprehensive; tickets must be bought in advance from a kiosk or the office on Via Catalogna.

Half/full day: Neptune's Grotto, a cave system near the tip of Capo Caccia, by boat or by public or tour bus (be warned if going by bus: there are 600-odd steps down from the headland); nuraghe (beehive-like Bronze Age dwelling built of enormous stones) and village of Palmavera; archaeological tours; boat trips; scuba diving; bus or train to Sassari.

Upper NW side of the island. 22 mls SW of Sassari, the second largest city in Sardinia. 10 mls S of Alghero/Fertilia airport.

The compact Old Town occupies a low promontory and faces the dramatic headland of Capo Caccia across a sheltered bay. The main resort stretches along the coast to the Lido and its beaches. Beyond, the coastal scenery continues hilly and scenic, while inland is mainly flat and fertile.

Post Code: 07041
Website: www.enit.it

Airport : Fertilia
Airport Code: AHO
Flight time from ther U.K.: 3 hrs