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Alghero Information |
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Alghero Weather/Climate/Temperature |
Sardinia has a typically Mediterranean
climate, but the south is generally much drier than the north western
region, which receives a lot of rain in winter. The wettest months are
November and December, while July and August are the hottest and the driest
with an average of about 95°F (35°C) and sometimes reaching 104°F (40°C). In
winter temperatures average about 50°F (10°C) along the coast.For up-to-date
information and forecast:
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/16520.html |
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Alghero Bars
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Baraonda (Piazza della Misericordia 14,
079 975 922) is a chic bar with good music, great cocktails
and moreish nibbles, while Café Diva (piazza
Municipio 1, 079 982 306) is a laid-back retreat. |
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Alghero Nightlife |
Nightlife
in Alghero is fairly low key, but start by sipping cocktails
outside the elegant Cafe Latino, overlooking the pretty harbour. Enjoy
another pre-dinner drink in the centre of old Alghero, where there are a
number of rustic bars, such as the Jamaica Inn on Via Principe Umberto.
After dinner, the locals make for the Piazza Civica. The Cafe Costantino is
good for nightcaps. there are a number of clubs and discos on the outskirts
of the city, of which Il Ruscello (on the road to Olmedo) has an open-air
dancefloor. |
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Alghero Transport
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There are bus services from the airport into town and town to Fertilia which
also stops at several point along the beach which runs for 9 kilometres from
Alghero. |
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Alghero Beaches |
For
pictures and descriptions of local beaches http://www.sardiniaaccommodation.co.uk/places_of_interest.htm |
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Alghero Sailing |
Sailing
Charter Alghero offers a sailing charter service so that you may
enjoy the sailing around the splendid coast of this area, Andrea and Daniela
have decided to put their boat at your disposal. http://www.sailingcharteralghero.it
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Alghero Diving |
Adventure &
Diving manages a modern and well equipped diving centre and is located just
10 mins away from the diving sites of Capo Caccia and Punta
Giglio, considered very important in the Mediterranean for their many caves
and spectacularly rich marine life. The diving centre offers many services
including: transferr, equipment rental, instructor assistance, boat rental,
film develop[ing, video and mechanical repairs. More diving links on http://www.sardiniaaccommodation.co.uk/links.htm |
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Alghero Fishing |
Alghero’s sea is a real paradise for fishing and watersports. |
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Alghero Airport Information
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Alghero Fertilia is the principal airport for nord Sardinia, and is located
about 11 kms from town. (0039) 079 935282 |
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Alghero Scenery/Beauty Spots |
Neptune’s
Grotto is a remarkable series of caves just outside Alghero, which
can be seen on a 45-minute tour. Boats leave from the marina, and the
hour-long journey takes in the dramatic coastline surrounding the limestone
headland, Capo Caccia. You can also catch a bus to Capo Caccia and climb
down the 654 steps to reach the caves below. A few miles outside Alghero is
the Necropolis Anghelu Rùju, an ancient (3000 BC) burial ground. There are
also Nuraghic sites, conical towers of vast stone, left by Sardinia’s Bronze
Age civilisation. The best is Nuraghe di Palmavera (079 979 054), a Nuraghic
complex. About 15 miles south of Alghero, along a spectacular, cliff-hugging
road, is the medieval settlement of Bosa. It is crowned by the treasured
Castello Malaspina, an impressive 12th-century castle with fantastic views
and a number of rare 14th-century Catalan frescoes. |
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Alghero Parks |
The
park of Porto Conte is well worth a visit. Sardinia Accommodation Ltd
organizes 4x4 trips which include the park. |
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Alghero Children Activities |
Alghero is excellent for kids because of the beach, but except for the small
playgournd in the Giardini Pubblici there no other organized children |
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Alghero Family Activities
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Alghero is very family friendly, but not much of organized family activities |
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Alghero Local Attractions |
Most of Alghero’s sights are in the lively citadel, where bars and
restaurants spill out on to the car-free streets. Seven defensive towers
divide the old and new towns; the 14th-century Porta Terra is a good
starting point. The key building, though, is the Catalan-Gothic Cathedral
(piazza Duomo), at the junction of via Roma and via Umberto. Nearby, in
similar style, is the 16th-century Palazzo Albis (piazza Civica), once home
to Alghero’s governors. The restored 14th-century Chiesa di San Francesco
(via Carlo Alberto) is the city’s most enchanting church. |
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Alghero Local Restaurants |
Fresh fish
and seafood dominate the menu, but locally produced salami and pecorino
(sheep’s cheese) are also widely available, and malloreddus
(Sardinian pasta) with sausage and tomato sauce is a standard local dish.
Culinary Catalan touches include paella and crema catalana. Alghero has its
own wines and Anghelu Rùju, a delicious port. The citadel has plenty of
restaurants. For typical Sardinian food, Osteria Taverna Paradiso (via
Principe Umberto 29, 079 978001) boasts a fine selection of local cheeses.
Il Pavone (Piazza Sulis 3, 079 979 584) has an innovative menu, including a
superb squid-ink pasta. For pizza by the metre, Poco Loco (via Gramsci 9,
079 973 1034) has ten-pin bowling and live music on Friday nights.
Agriturismo Sa Mandra (Strada Aeroporto Civile, 079 999 150), north of the
centre, near the airport, serves up a traditional Sardinian meat feast, a
set menu of antipasti, suckling pig, lamb or boar; book well in advance. For
details of local restaurants http://www.sardiniaaccommodation.co.uk/restaurants.htm |
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Alghero Driving |
The minimum
age to drive in Italy is 18 years. Children under the age of 4 must be
seated in a special restraint. The use of seat belts is mandatory both for
front and rear seat passengers. Non European licenses and old-style green
European licenses must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit.
Fines: Police have the right to revoke your license and to collect fines on
the spot. For foreign-registered vehicles, police can collect one-fourth of
the maximum fine on the spot. If you contest the fine, you must deposit half
the maximum amount in cash for insurance. For car hire http://www.auto-europe.co.uk/index.cfm?aff=SARDINIA |
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Walking around Alghero |
At sunset,
take the pleasant stroll along the seafront to the port, starting from Lungomare Dante on the south side. The route is lined with a series of
ramparts and towers, coming to an end at the Forte de la Magdalena - the
city's most important Spanish fortification. A plaque commemorates Giuseppe
Garibaldi's landing here on August 14, 1855. After all that exertion,
culture and history, treat yourselves to an ice cream. |
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AlgheroTourist Board
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Tourist
information: Piazza Porta Terra 2 (079 979 054) |
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Alghero Shopping |
The old town is the
main shopping area for gifts and local produce. Via Carlo Alberto is best
for gifts, while via Gilbert Ferret specialises in elegant boutiques. During
the summer many shops are open until midnight. An antiques, arts and crafts
market is held in piazza Civica on the last
Saturday of the month. In high season (July and August), a late-night craft
market lines the seafront (Lungomare Dante). £60 The north-western coast of
Sardinia is well-known for its coral and this sum buys you a coral and gold
bracelet from Arte Orafa, a designer jewellery shop on Via Carlo Alberto.
£11 is the cost of a bottle of Cannonau Riserva 1998 - a full-bodied,
locally produced red wine from Salumeria del Centro on Via Kennedy. £7 will
buy a litre of Algheran olive oil and a selection of pretty Sardinian cakes
from the Antica Formaggeria deli on the corner of Via Genova and Via
Cagliari. |
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Alghero by
Ferry |
Ferries
from mainland italy arrive in Sardinia at Porto Torres, Olbia, Golfo
Aranci e Cagliari. |
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| Italy General Information |
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Capital |
Rome |
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Time Zone |
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 in summer) |
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Telephone Services |
Country Code: 39 Note the leading Zero IS
required for city codes eg. 06 for Rome; 02 for Milan; 011 for Turin; 081
for Naples; 041 for Venice and 055 for Florence including when dialling
locally. Mobile phones DO drop the zero.
IDD: International Direct Dialling is
available - NOTE telephone codes changed in December 1998. From then; the
leading zero is required when calling both within Italy and from abroad; and
even within the same telephone district.
Outgoing Code: 00 |
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Emergency Telephone Numbers |
Dial 112 anywhere in the EU to reach the emergency services. Additional
local numbers:-Police - 112; Ambulance - 113; Fire - 115 |
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Tourist Information in the UK
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Italian State Tourist Office (ENIT); 1 Princes Street; London W1R 8AY Tel:
(0171) 408 1254. Press 1 to bypass recorded message. Fax: (0171) 493 6695.
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Local Tourist Information |
Ente Nazionale Italiano per il Turismo (ENIT); Via Marghera 2; 00185 Rome;
Italy Tel: 06 49711. Fax: 06 446 3379. |
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UK Representation in the UK |
Embassy of the Italian Republic: 14 Three
Kings Yard, Davies Street London W1Y 2EH, Tel (020) 73122200, fax (020)
73122230 |
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UK
Representation |
British
Embassy; Via XX Settembre 80a; I-00187 Roma RM Tel: + [39] 06 4220 0001 or
4220 + extn if known Fax: + [39} 06 487 3324 or 4220 2334 email: bcflocom@tin.it
Also Consulates in Bari ; Brindisi; Cagliari; Catania; Florence; Genoa;
Messina; Milan; Naples; Palermo Trieste; Turin; Venice |
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Passport Information |
Valid passport required by all except nationals of Austria; Belgium;
Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Luxembourg; The Netherlands; Portugal;
Spain; Sweden with a valid national ID card. Nationals of Andorra;
Liechtenstein; Monaco; San Marino; and Switzerland if carrying national ID
cards. Requirements may be subject to change at short notice. Contact the
relevant authority before travelling. |
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VISA Information |
Visa required by all except: Nationals of the EU; Australia; Canada; USA;
Japan. Nationals of Andorra; Argentina; Bermuda; Bolivia; Bosnia;
Herzegovina; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech
Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong (British
Nationals); Hungary; Iceland; Jamaica; Kenya; South Korea; Liechtenstein;
Macedonia; Malaysia; Malta; Mexico; Monaco; New Zealand; Norway; Paraguay;
Poland; San Marino; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Switzerland; Uruguay;
Vatican City; Serbia and Montenegro; for stays not exceeding 3 months.
Nationals of Venezuela for visits not exceeding 60 days. Nationals of Israel
for stays not exceeding 30 days. |
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Prohibited Items |
Although there are no legal limits for tobacco and alcohol travellers may be
questioned. Pork meat is not allowed on outbound from Sardinia |
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Food and Drink |
Water is considered drinkable; normal precautions should be observed with
food. |
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Currency |
In common with12 Member States of the
European Union (EU), here the Euro is the currency.
There are seven different banknotes and eight coins of the Euro.
Each participating EU country has coins with one common side and a reverse
side specific to each country, while the banknotes look the same throughout
the euro area.
MasterCard; Visa and
Diners Club are all widely accepted.
ATM availability: Over 20; 000 locations.
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Banking Hours |
They vary from city to city but in general; 0830 - 1330 and 1530-1930 Mon.
to Fri. |
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Languages |
Italian with dialects in different regions. French (in border areas from the
Riviera to the area North of Milan. Slovenian spoken in provinces. German;
French and English may be spoken in cities and resorts. |
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Weather |
Summer is hot; especially in the South.
Spring and Autumn are mild. Winter is much drier in the South. Mountain
regions are colder with heavy snowfalls. |
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Religions |
Roman Catholic with Protestant
minorities. |
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Electricity
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220 volts Ac; 50 Hz. |
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Post |
7 - 10 days but may
be subject to delays. Letters for Poste Restante should be addressed
to Fermo Post and the Town. When sending mail underline the destined
country and write the person's surname in capitals. |
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Radio Frequencies |
BBC: 17.64 12.09
9.410 6.195
VOA: 15.20 9.760 6.040 5.995.
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