Alghero
Alghero, Catalan L' Alguer ( [ ləlɣe ] (default) or [ ləlɣeɾ ] (local) ), Sardinian S'Alighera, is a city in the province of Sassari in the Italian island of Sardinia. Linguistically, it is a Catalan -speaking enclave of importance.
General
Alghero has 40,685 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) on an area of 225 km ² and is located on the west coast (geographical location: 40 ° 33 'North, 8 ° 19' East). The old town has many medieval monuments, which are typical of medieval towns in the area of the Crown of Aragon. Thick walls surround the old town, which is located on a ledge. Narrow streets and stone steps lead to the places and churches.
History
The period of foreign domination of Sardinia, the BC began about 800 with the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians and continued through several intermediate stages, was continued so that in the 11th century in Alghero that the Genoese Doria family, the city on behalf of the Republic of Genoa from Saracen pirates freed, occupied and rebuilt into a fortress against the competing Pisan. In 1354 the Catalans conquered (the house of Aragon ), the city built the fortress and expelled the local population. The result was the founding of the town of Villanova Monteleone.
Language
A part of the population still speaks a dialect of Catalan, as colonists from Barcelona newly invaded the city after the Sardinians were 1372 after a popular uprising against the Aragonese king Pere IV sold. The Catalan was later replaced in the 17th century as the official language by the Spanish, by the Italian. Taken in 1990, still about 60 % of the population of the Catalan dialect of Alghero, which is currently being passed by only a few families to their children. Various associations promote the language and culture, such as the Maria Montessori Centre and the Cultural Work of Alghero.
The language is, however, poorly protected notwithstanding any guidelines for the protection of minorities in the Italian Constitution, on site. Of course, the inhabitants speak Italian and next to at least understand the local Sardinian dialects.
The residents of Alghero call their city small Barcelona. Among the living traditions in Alghero the song of the Sibyl stands out, which is sung as in Majorca, on Christmas night.
Tourism
Today the city - with one of the most beautiful old towns and the port - a center of Sardinian tourism. The old town is characterized by lively bustle of narrow streets. Many stores, including many souvenir and jewelery shops, make strolling a pleasure entertaining. It is offered particularly much coral jewelry, because the coral processing has here in Alghero, which is also known as Coral City, a long tradition. Originally derived from the coral Capo Caccia, that but now is under strict protection of species. The many hotels and restaurants offer a diverse and very good food, especially fish and seafood are prepared. Nowhere in Sardinia there are more hotels than in Alghero. Countless churches, piazzas and towers are next to the ramparts, the museums, the Aquarium and the beaches north of the city attractions.
The city stretches across suburbs as Fertilia from the surrounding region. The environment, the coastal road to Bosa and the pass road to Villanova Monteleone include, in addition to the Nuraghe of Palma Vera and the Domus de Janas necropolis of Anghelu Ruju and Santu Pedru to the attractions of the surrounding area.
Anghelu Ruiu: About eight kilometers north of Alghero has only discovered in 1905 the nuragical necropolis Anghelu Ruiu. It dates from the period around 3300-2500 BC and is one of the largest and most important investments in Sardinia. The 38 graves, making up the excavation site, appear in the structure of homes. In the Domus de Janas, the rock chamber tombs, one has many valuable grave goods found. They can be seen in the archaeological museums of Cagliari and Sassari.
The harbor is a good starting point for sightseeing. From the lively Piazza di bastions della Maddalena offers a beautiful view of the boats moored here and the gulf. The Porta a Mare adjoined the bastion della Maddalena. Through it leads directly to the old town. But the bastions Magellano can be reached from here. The bastions are a popular destination due to the beautiful view over the harbor and the bay.
Attractions
Chiesa di San Michele ( St. Michael Church ): Re- Built in the 17th century after the old church from the 16th century. This church is now home to the Jesuit College. She has the outline of a cross. The dome of the church dates from 1950 and is one of the most striking points of view of the whole city: it is covered with glazed colored tiles.
Traffic
Alghero has a system of city - ( Servizi urbani ) and regional buses ( Servizi extraurbani ) connecting both the individual districts of Alghero with each other and the city with places in the immediate and wider surroundings. Holdings is the bus by the company ARST - INTERMODALTRASPORTI REGIONALI DELLA Sardegna. From the situated just outside the town center railway station there is a train to Sassari.
Alghero has an international airport ( IATA: AHO). Year-round scheduled flights connect Alghero with Rome and Milan, in February 2004, there is a regular flight connection to the Catalan city of Girona. The cheap flights Ryanair Alghero combines with the German airports of Bremen, Dortmund, Hahn ( Hunsrück), Lübeck, Memmingen and Weeze and with Bratislava in Slovakia, Graz in Austria and many other cities in Europe.
Twinning
Sons and daughters of the town
- Antonello Cuccureddu ( b. 1949 ), football player and coach