Alghero

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Revision as of 11:52, 20 March 2015

Alghero

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	40°33.88′N, 08°18.41′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet
Alghero harbour Click for larger view

Founded at the beginning of the 12th century by the Genoese, Alghero fell under Spanish rule in 1353 and expanded due to an influx of Catalan colonists from the 14th to the early 18th centuries, when it fell under Italian influence and Italian replaced Catalan as the official language. A variant of Catalan is widely spoken in Alghero even today and the town retains many architectural traces of its Italian past.

Bombed extensively during World War II, Alghero was rebuilt after the end of hostilities and has blossomed into a flourishing tourist resort.

For yachtsmen Alghero's principal attraction is its sheltered harbour, which offers a safe place to leave a yacht to explore the surrounding attractions of the Grotta di Nettuno and the Nuraghic remains of Palmavera.

The Port of Alghero manages two quays with spaces for visiting yachts, the Banchina Dogana and Banchina Sanita, which can accommodate vessels up to 50 metres. Alternatively there is the new Marina di Sant Elmo at the southern end of the harbour.

Local Weather

See Italy - weather.

Charts

See Sardinia.

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Approach and Navigation

The entrance is reportedly potentially tricky in strong winds from SW round to N.

Check-in facilities

Call on channel 9 for Marina di Sant Elmo or telephone: +39 (0)79980829; Email. The Port Authority operates an inflatable boat during high season which meets visiting yachts at the entrance and guides them to a berth.

Alghero harbour, view from S

Berthing Options

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Update July 2013: These marina facilities are no longer the only game in town. The Port Authority have outsourced all berthing to several companies - you may well be met by 2 or 3 RIBs on your way in to the harbour, all touting for business. This online guide may be useful if it is kept updated. The marinas dont seem to have the concept of a 'short stay' for water and shopping, pricing was 24 hrs or not - this is likely negotiable however.

• The Marina di St Elmo is a new yacht marina offering 100 berths for yachts up to 60m overall length and draught of up to 4.5m. Yachts moor bow or stern-to floating pontoons, using mooring lines provided. Electricity and water via a code-activated terminal point. WCs and showers. Laundry. Fuel station. Mobile 20T crane available via the Alghero Sailing Club, which also has a small yard.

• The Port of Alghero quays have 30 transit berths with water and electricity, WCs and showers at 50m from the city center. They also offer a laundry service and all this at half the price of St Elmo. The quay is open to the public. They operate on VHF 9 call for consortio for mooring assistance.

Anchorages

Alghero

Just to the north of the harbour wall is an anchorage in 4-6m with a mixture of weed and some sand patches. Access to town by dinghy either to town quay or directly on beach or harbour wall adjacent to anchorage. Short walk to supermarket from beach, use dinghy access point in swimming buoys then go about 200m inland from roundabout (Sisa & Conad). Exposed from N-W.

Cala Galera

Offers several areas to anchor from 4-10m, weed with sand patches. Exposed from E-SW.

Porto Conte

A large area open to the South with good anchorages in several places. Access to the Grotto di Nettuno from Cala del Bollo / Cala Dragonara

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

• Well stocked chandlery on Via Guiseppe Garibaldi, opposite the harbour N wall (with Camping Gaz)
• Well stocked marine suppliers (SS bolts, nuts, screws, sealant paints etc etc) on corner of Via Diez & Via Goceano
• Several marine suppliers & workshops in this area (engines, electrics etc)

Repairs/Yards

There are some yards along the north wall of the harbour but little onshore storage space. There is currently no travel lift, any lifting must be done by crane.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

Fuel berth well marked in centre of harbour basin

Water

Available at fuel berth and marina berths

Electricity

Available on marina berths

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The old town of Alghero rewards the casual stroller, with good views from the old walls overlooking the harbour, an interesting cathedral in styles ranging from 1530s Gothic up to 20th century neo-classical, and an impressive Baroque church of San Francisco.

Further afield, the Grotta di Nettuno is a remarkable stalactite-covered cave at the foot of cliffs near Capo Caccia about eight miles west of the harbour. It can be reached either by boat excursion from Alghero (in settled weather only) or from the road to Capo Caccia down the 656 steps of the Escala del Cabirol (goat's stairway). There are hourly guided tours through the cave system.

The other principal attraction around Alghero is the Nuraghe di Palmavera, one of the most important Bronze Age sites in Sardinia, with the remains of a 14th century BC palace surrounded by a cluster of circular stone dwellings.

Also nearby is the strange rock-cut necropolis of Anghelu Ruju, with its nearly 40 underground burial chambers representing the best examples of the so-called 'domus de janas' or 'fairies' houses' in Sardinia.

Alghero old town Click for larger view	Grotta di Nettuno Click for larger view
Nuraghe Palmavera (14th century BC) Click for larger view	Bronze Age necropolis of Anghelu Ruju Click for larger view

Grocery & Supply Stores

Good fish market (mornings only), fruit and veg market and several supermarkets (search for Sisa on Google Earth). The town has a good range of shops of all kinds

Eateries

Many restaurants and cafes in and around town

Internet/WiFi

If this is your first stop in Sardinia and you intend to stay a while, it may be worth buying a data SIM for internet access. Most major Italian providers are represented in town so this is a good place to get this sorted. At present (2013) Wind have a SIM only deal for 10Gb at €15/month.

WiFi (July 2013) from the Consorzio with an SSID of "CONSORZIO PORTO ALGHERO", password available from the staff

Laundry

There is a good self service laundry, Bollicine, in the Via Vitt. Veneto open (2013) from 0800-2130. Range of machines from 6kg to 16kg plus dryers, looked in good condition and reasonable prices (c. €5-9 per wash - detergent included)

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Many providers available in town, likely to be busy in July/August when daily rates seem quite high (daily rate minimum c. €50)

Garbage Disposal

Bins behind public quay and close to the fish market (NE corner of harbour) - dont bother to separate your rubbish, there are no facilities for this (2013)

Transportation

• Buses from ARST provide connections to other towns on the island
• International airport with direct flights to some european destinations (Ryan Air, thomson, Easy Jet et al)
• Train service to Sassari with connections to other towns via ARST & TrenItalia

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

Links to relevant websites

References & Publications

See Italy.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• May 2003 --Atheneoflymington 17:57, 16 February 2010 (UTC)
• July 2013 --RobbieW sySpringDawn 21:34, 28 July 2013 (BST)

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