This spring my mom came to visit me in May, and as usual we decided to get away for a long weekend.  We have a tradition of leaving the Sweden every time she comes to visit me, and this year we decided to go to Alghero, Italy! It had been almost a year since I had been to Italy, so I was itching to go back.

For those of you who don't know, Alghero is located along the northwest coast of Sardinia. I have always wanted to go to Sardinia, and was dreaming of nice beach weather since it is also know for its magnificent white sand beaches, but that was not meant to happen to me. Although it is usually beach weather in May in Italy, they had been having a very cold and strange spring ,so all we could do was admire it by walking along the beach every day and breathing in the fresh sea air. Alghero is known for its beautiful beaches, good food, and Catalan origin. The old town is surrounded by 16th century Catalan walls, and they are absolutely beautiful.  

Where to Stay

We also love to stay at B & B's, so after checking out some TripAdvisor reviews we settled on Lloc d'Or B & B. It was amazing! Gemma, the owner, who runs the B & B was absolutely amazing and did everything she could to make our stay fantastic. We stayed in the upper floor and had our own living room and terrace.  We absolutely loved it and everything about the B & B, especially the delicious breakfasts that she provided us with every morning. I highly recommend booking this B & B if visiting Alghero and I can't recommend Gemma and her husband enough for their kindness!!

What to Do

Alghero is a pretty small town and there is not much to do unless you are there for the beach, which in my eyes is the main attraction. It is definitely a beach town and when the weather is a bit chilly and you have walked up and down the promenade and walked around the old town, it's time for a day trip. We asked Gemma where she recommended for us to go to for the day and she suggested Bosa, which is just a short one hour away by bus. The bus ride is along the coast, so you get magnificent views of the sea and landscape - breathtaking. Bosa is a mix of traditional and modern, the cobblestoned streets along with the pastel colored medieval houses called Sa Costa. It is very peaceful and relaxing and the people are so friendly. We spent a lovely day there walking along all the small streets and just exploring this small city - and of course admiring the amazing architecture and vibrant colors. This is a day trip that is a must do if you are visiting Alghero - loved it!

The Food Market

Once a week, Alghero has a very large food market and we were fortunate enough that it happened during our last day so that we could check it out, do some shopping, and of course enjoy the good food! Naturally, I bought lots of cheese, especially the fantastic Sardinian parmesan. There was so much to choose from, I didn't know where to start. We sampled a lot of cheese and some fresh fruit, but in the end we settled for an amazing plate of roasted potatoes. Sounds a bit strange for lunch and a bit boring, but I love the way Italians make their patate al forno!! It just never disappoints and is truly comfort food.

patate al forno

parcels of cheese

cheese

round zucchini

blood oranges

Where to Eat

I know that I haven't mentioned restaurants in this post, and there is a reason for that is because we only ate at two different places in Alghero. We had lunch twice at Bar Focacceria Milese (via Giuseppe Garibari, 5), which served the best panini for only three Euro. They make them fresh all day every day, and there is always a line. It's well worth the wait, as the quality of the paninis are fantastic, and so is the price. Our first night, we stumbled upon La Botteghina (via Principe Umberto, 63), while looking for another restaurant. I decided to read the menu and I liked what I saw, plus I liked their concept of only using local, ecological and farm fresh food, which was reflected in the taste. It was so good that we ate here every night and it never disappointed. We tried many dishes off the menu, but the one that stood out the most is one my mom and I shared - a wood fired pizza made of spelt dough almost as big as the table and we each got to pick our own halves (mine was the margherita with ruccola and my mom's was the pear and gorgonzola). We ate the whole thing - that's right, every single morsel - and somehow we managed to also eat a slice of tiramisu. My mom loved the house wine there. The best thing besides the food here, was the service. All of the staff were so accommodating and very helpful. This restaurant is a must eat at, I can promise you that you will love it!

Tiramisu

Amazing spelt pizza

Transportation

It is very quick and easy to get into Alghero from the airport, just 20 minutes away with the local bus. And the best part is that it only costs 3 Euro, which makes it a great bargain!

Thankfully, Alghero is very easy to get around via the local bus, which you don't really need as the town is so small. Many regional busses serve the town, so it makes getting out of the city very easy. If we had been there longer, we would have perhaps taken another day trip and it is perfect for those people who do not feel like renting a car, but the ultimate reason for being here is the beautiful beach and great food.

I hope to come back soon to Sardinia and hopefully rent a car and explore the other hidden gems nestled on this beautiful island!

Talia Klundt is the Sweden Editor for Wandering Educators.

All photos courtesy and copyright Talia Klundt