Sardinia Review
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Sardinia Review is a web-guide to the Italian island of Sardinia. Written exclusively in English, the guide is designed to provide ideas and inspiration for places to visit on this incredible island.
Sardinia really does have a bit of everything, perhaps its standout feature comes in the shape of its hundreds of beaches with beautiful azure water that can be found on each of its coastlines. There's so much more to it than that though, it's impossible not to feel an acute sense of history with archaeological sites such as Nora, Tharros or any of the many Nuraghe sites such as the UNESCO World Heritage listed Su Nuraxi di Barumini which date back some 3,500 years. There are also 3 National Parks - the huge, sprawling Gennargentu in Nuoro Province with its diverse terrain and wildlife, the stunning La Maddalena Archipelago of islands where you'll find some of the best beaches and the very special Asinara National Park, an island where the typical resident comes in the shape of a donkey! Then how about the tiny island of Tavolara with its population of 20 residents that includes its own royal family. |
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You can't fail to be touched by the dozens of pretty villages such as Bosa or Castelsardo while cities such as Cagliari and Alghero provide their own unique charms.
As you work your way around the pages of this website, I hope you enjoy the photos and the descriptions I've provided of the places I've visited, but more than that, I hope Sardinia Review proves to be a valuable resource to help you plan your Sardinian adventure.
Dion Protani, founder of Sardinia Review.
As you work your way around the pages of this website, I hope you enjoy the photos and the descriptions I've provided of the places I've visited, but more than that, I hope Sardinia Review proves to be a valuable resource to help you plan your Sardinian adventure.
Dion Protani, founder of Sardinia Review.
HERE'S SOME OF WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON SARDINIA REVIEW!
Sardinia in - focusThe city of Alghero occupies an area of north-western Sardinia in the Province of Sassari. One of Sardinia's prime destinations for tourism, it attracts visitors with its beaches, an historical centre, a marina, a wealth of shops and some great places to eat and drink.
Sardinia is an island of differing cultures and languages and nowhere is this more prevalent than Alghero. The city was founded in the 12th century by the famous Doria family of Genoa but conquered by the Aragonese in 1353. |
Alghero
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From the arrival of the Aragonese, Alghero took on a distinctly Catalan air with settlers arriving from Barcelona and the town being dubbed as a "Little Barcelona" (Barcelonetta). As you walk the historic streets of Alghero you'll hear the language is quite different from Italian and you'll see the yellow and red striped flag of Catalonia proudly flying from dozens of vantage points.
Alghero's history along with its seaside location make a compelling case for a visit. The main attraction is the historic centre (centro storico) which is hemmed in on three sides by attractive sea walls. You can walk all the way around the sea walls which are characterised by wide walkways, colourful fishing houses and restaurants. Just north of the centro storico is the city's large marina where a vast array of elegant yachts park up to enjoy the spectacle.
At the heart of the historic centre, the busiest square is Piazza Civica which is lined by numerous shops and restaurants of its own. Among the shops you'll find many selling coral jewellery; the city has long been a noted centre of the coral trade and this is further strengthened by the Coral Museum (Museo del Corallo) on Via XX Settembre.
The main church in the city is Alghero Cathedral which which is flanked by a huge bell tower (campanile). You can climb the Cathedral Bell Tower to get some of the most breathtaking views of the city and the seas that lie beyond it. Other churches of note include the Chiesa di San Francesco and the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo with its distinctive dome of multi-coloured majolica tiles.
Throughout the city you'll find reminders of the past with a series of watchtowers; among the most famous of these is the Torre di Porta Terra which you can also climb for great views. Gaze north east of the tower and you'll spot Alghero's largest beach known as the Spiaggia del Lido di Alghero. This is a popular spot for the evening passeggiata as locals stroll along the tree-lined promenade.
Down in Alghero's port area you'll find a number of boats offering excursions; the most popular of these is the trip out to the Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune's Grotto). The boat tours make for a wonderful day out and are the best way to really appreciate the caves and the gorgeous little bays that surround them.
With its excellent accommodation facilities Alghero makes for a sensible base from which to explore this corner of Sardinia. Just under an hour's drive north of Alghero is one of Sardinia's and indeed, Italy's best beaches: La Pelosa. From Stintino the port town close to the beach you can take a ferry across to the incredible island of Asinara: a nature reserve where the local donkey population considerably outnumbers that of humans! Head south of Alghero and you'll eventually come to the town of Bosa which is an absolute must for any serious itinerary of the island; its technicolour display of houses and riverside location make for a memorable visit.
In terms of travel, the city has a great advantage with its Alghero Fertilia Airport which is situated a 15 minute drive to the north. A clutch of low-cost airlines offer both international and domestic flights with a wide range of destinations possible.
Alghero's history along with its seaside location make a compelling case for a visit. The main attraction is the historic centre (centro storico) which is hemmed in on three sides by attractive sea walls. You can walk all the way around the sea walls which are characterised by wide walkways, colourful fishing houses and restaurants. Just north of the centro storico is the city's large marina where a vast array of elegant yachts park up to enjoy the spectacle.
At the heart of the historic centre, the busiest square is Piazza Civica which is lined by numerous shops and restaurants of its own. Among the shops you'll find many selling coral jewellery; the city has long been a noted centre of the coral trade and this is further strengthened by the Coral Museum (Museo del Corallo) on Via XX Settembre.
The main church in the city is Alghero Cathedral which which is flanked by a huge bell tower (campanile). You can climb the Cathedral Bell Tower to get some of the most breathtaking views of the city and the seas that lie beyond it. Other churches of note include the Chiesa di San Francesco and the Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo with its distinctive dome of multi-coloured majolica tiles.
Throughout the city you'll find reminders of the past with a series of watchtowers; among the most famous of these is the Torre di Porta Terra which you can also climb for great views. Gaze north east of the tower and you'll spot Alghero's largest beach known as the Spiaggia del Lido di Alghero. This is a popular spot for the evening passeggiata as locals stroll along the tree-lined promenade.
Down in Alghero's port area you'll find a number of boats offering excursions; the most popular of these is the trip out to the Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune's Grotto). The boat tours make for a wonderful day out and are the best way to really appreciate the caves and the gorgeous little bays that surround them.
With its excellent accommodation facilities Alghero makes for a sensible base from which to explore this corner of Sardinia. Just under an hour's drive north of Alghero is one of Sardinia's and indeed, Italy's best beaches: La Pelosa. From Stintino the port town close to the beach you can take a ferry across to the incredible island of Asinara: a nature reserve where the local donkey population considerably outnumbers that of humans! Head south of Alghero and you'll eventually come to the town of Bosa which is an absolute must for any serious itinerary of the island; its technicolour display of houses and riverside location make for a memorable visit.
In terms of travel, the city has a great advantage with its Alghero Fertilia Airport which is situated a 15 minute drive to the north. A clutch of low-cost airlines offer both international and domestic flights with a wide range of destinations possible.
THINGS TO SEE IN SARDINIATo help you make sense of the places you'd like to visit when you come here we've categorised the main sights under headings such as Beaches, Islands, Cities and Archaeological Sites among others.
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Sardinia HotelsWith such a vast array of accommodation to choose from we've provided a Booking.com search engine where you can choose from the widest possible collection of Sardinia Hotels, B&Bs or Villas.
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