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| Alghero: another side to Sardinia |
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Alghero is located on the north-western coast of the island, and is a city abounding in Spanish influences: in its vicinity are some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the whole of Sardinia, with sandy bays bordered by lush vegetation. The destination offers resort hotels overlooking the Mediterranean, and sea- and land-based activities, with the advantage of an international airport just ten minutes away. In June, Alghero will play host to The Venue Italia Workshop, a three-day showcase of Italian suppliers dedicated to international buyers.
 
Open onto the Mediterranean but surrounded by an ancient wall, Alghero is located in north-west Sardinia, and can be reached via the international airport or Porto Torres (40 km), a docking point for ferries from the continent.
The city has a lot to offer visitors, with its long beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters and the remnants of its glorious Spanish past: it was founded by the Genoans in the 10th century, but conquered in 1353 by Pietro IV D’Arborea, who put the population to flight and replaced them with a Catalan colony.
Significant traces of Spain’s domination, which lasted until 1720, remain: locals speak algherese, a dialect very similar to Catalan, and some of its buildings and monuments, such as the bell towers of the Cathedral and the church of San Francesco, are in Gothic-Catalan style. The atmosphere here is very different from that of the jet-set Sardinia of the Costa Smeralda. Alghero and its beaches are a more discreet and much more chic destination for those attracted by its tranquillity, beauty and sea.
Today, the city is also targeting the meetings and events market, as evidenced by the creation of Alghero Città Congressi (www.comune.alghero.ss.it/citta_congressi/citta_congressi.htm), a hotel and suppliers consortium formed to promote the region and which in future could evolve into a convention bureau. All the numbers are there, as the consortium can already offer various events venues, eight conference hotels and more than 4,000 bed spaces in hotels in the area. Hotels here are often the resort type: most are outside the city, in spectacular locations overlooking the sea, with extensive beaches for their guests. They are generally sizeable with good capacity for meetings, and they also have extensive leisure facilities: swimming pools, tennis courts and spas are almost a given. In addition, nearly all the area’s accommodation facilities are modern or have recently been restored: for example, the 5-star Hotel Carlos V, just 20 metres from the sea, was completely renovated in 2007. Although almost in the centre, it is a real resort with sports facilities and a spa: it is regularly used for meetings and various other kinds of event. |
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 A hinterland full of surprises
Alghero is not of course a destination for large numbers, but its region does offer a great selection of activities.
This is exemplified in the packages offered by DMC Insulatour, which make use of the area’s rich natural, cultural and gastronomic heritage.
The sea plays a central role: groups can take part in sailing races leaving from the city’s port, on board 10-12 metre boats skippered by experts. After the competition, they can enjoy a grilled lunch on the beach. Another adrenaline-fuelled activity is the treasure hunt in off-road jeeps: equipped with a road book, participants drive along dirt roads on the cliffs overlooking the sea, and then penetrate areas of denser vegetation in the hinterland. For those of a more gastronomic bent, Sardinia is the land of noble wines: to appreciate them, Insulatour organises visits to Sella & Mosca winery. After tasting the best wines, the party moves into the hinterland for lunch with shepherds.
All the customs of civilisation are forgotten here: lunch is served on wooden and cork trays, and courses are consumed on typical Sardinian bread, spianata or carasau, which are used as plates.
Participants can also see how cheese is made and how suckling pig is roasted on a spit. Another very popular proposal among groups is the trip on the Trenino verde (little green train) from Alghero to Tempio: the route climbs through olive groves and vegetable gardens, scaling the heights of valleys crossed by long viaducts.
It then reaches the station of Fenosu, where the legend of the 19th-century bandit Giovanni Tolu still hangs in the air. The journey continues through the mesas, the hills that recall the landscape of the Wild West. As the vegetation becomes more dense, the train climbs via hairpin bends through a succession of viaducts and tunnels, including that of Bortigiadas, an engineering masterpiece consisting of a spiral more than 500 metres long within the mountain. The highest point of the whole line is the beautiful station of Tempio Pausania, built in 1931. During the journey, participants can make two or three stops at the most characteristic stations for food and wine tasting.
Those, however, who prefer to stay in the city have a choice of prestigious locations.
The Maddalena Tower, a stronghold built in the 1500s along the walls, is today home to an open-air theatre perfect for shows and product presentations under the stars, while the recently-renovated Civic Theatre provides an excellent backdrop for atmospheric events. Still in the centre, right on the Lungomare Dante promenade, El Caval Marì is a 1950s building overlooking the sea. It has two adjoining rooms and a magnificent terrace for open-air receptions. Alghero also boasts the Palazzo dei Congressi conference centre, which has just been renovated and which has a 1,000-seater plenary hall: it is set to reopen soon under the management of the Alghero local authority.
May 2009 |
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