Alghero, the fifth largest city in Sardinia with approximately 44,000 permanent residents, will captivate you with the atmosphere of an ancient seaside Catalan town, with centuries-old red city walls and cobbled streets washed by the emerald sea. Here you can easily combine history with shopping walks between artisan shops and luxury boutiques. The very attractive touristic city is located on the northwest coast of the island and thanks to the nearby Alghero-Fertilia airport, only 10 km from the center, it is considered one of the main gateways to Sardinia. Alghero was ruled by Catalonians for centuries, which is evident from the traditions and language that are still preserved here. It is called Barcelonetta (Little Barcelona) and considered the capital of the Coral Riviera, whose name is derived from the occurrence of large quantities of highly valued red coral, which is also processed and sold here. From the prehistoric, Neolithic period, structures such as the Domus de Janas di Santu Perdu, the necropolis of Anghelu Ruju and the Palmavera and Sant’Imbenia complexes have survived around Alghero. The historic center is the most fascinating part of the city. A tangled labyrinth of streets with historic houses, interspersed with small squares where the social life of the city takes place. The mural fortifications and ancient houses refer to the Catalan origin of the city, as well as the religious buildings: the Cathedral of Santa Maria (from the 16th century), the Monastery of San Francesco (from the 2nd half of the 17th century) with a large gilded retable (altarpiece), the Church of San Michele with a characteristic colored dome or the church of Sant’Anna (from 1735), built in the late Renaissance Sardinian style. When it comes to culture, don’t miss a visit to Casa Manno, a research center with a rich collection of paintings, furniture, books and rare manuscripts. As already said, Alghero is famous for its red coral, to which there is also a local manufactory, combining the processing of coral with the art of goldsmithing, which you can admire in the Museum of Coral, where you will learn all about the history and forms of this craft and the coral itself. Of the many cultural events that take place in Alghero throughout the year, the most famous is the Cap d’Any de l’Alguer New Year’s celebration, with many different shows and events, reviving the city center. Among the most impressive moments of the year are the Easter celebrations of Settimana Santa (Holy Week), with numerous religious processions referring to Spanish tradition.