The Port of Alghero
The Port of Alghero is the main harbour on the western coast of the island of Sardinia, and the first one that you reach when arriving from the Balearic Islands.
It is protected by the Southern Quay (Molo Sud) and by the Outer Breakwater Quay (Molo di Sopraflutto), and offers a total of around 2,500 berths, accommodating everything from large yachts to the charming fishing boats.
The seabed is rocky and sandy. The main winds are the north-west wind (mistral) and the south-west wind (libeccio).
It is sheltered from the south-east (sirocco), south (auster) and north-east (gregale) winds.
The port and the city merge to offer a unique berthing experience at the foot of the ancient, imposing walls of Alghero.
The city is a time-honoured fortress that was built by the Catalans, who also left behind their language.
Concealed amid the cobbled streets of the historical centre, the facades of the palazzos, the mullioned windows and the walled-up doorways, there lie Alghero's history, image and identity.
Alghero is the provincial capital of the Riviera del Corallo, a moniker that derives from the fact that the waters of its bay contain an immense amount of the highest quality of prized red coral.
The Coral Museum (Museo del Corallo), located in the oldest part of Alghero, focuses on the history of the working of coral in this area.
The stunning coastline alternates white beaches and cliffs, cloaked with the characteristic Mediterranean maquis.
Just a few miles away, you come to the Bay of Porto Conte, a breathtaking natural cove, part of the Parco di Porto Conte Nature Reserve, enclosed within the karst promontories of Capo Caccia and Punta Giglio.
It is one of the largest natural ports to be found anywhere in the Mediterranean.