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There is evidence of human habitation on the site of modern day Alghero that dates
back to the fourth millennia BC.
Prehistoric
This early civilization belonged to the Ozieri
Culture of the Late Neolithic who were village dwelling farmers and a necropolis
from this era can be seen at nearby Anghelu Ruju.
The later Nuraghic people appear in the area from 1500BC. This was a patriarchal
warrior society and their circular stone towers and dwellings are found all over
Sardinia. A well preserved example can be seen at Nuraghe di Palmavera which is
located between Fertilia and Capo Caccia.
Town Foundation
Alghero itself remained nothing more than a small fishing port until 1102 when
the Dorian family of Genoa founded the current fortified old town. Their rule
lasted until 1353 when a joint force of Aragonese and Venetians captured the town
after the defeat of the Genoans at Porte Conte, north west of Alghero.
The local ethnic Sardinian population was forcibly removed from the town to Villanova
some 25km away following the massacre of the Spanish occupying garrison. With the
growing port becoming the main route between Catalonia and Sardinia there followed
an intense period of Catalan settlement which has given the town its distinctive
Spanish feel.
Control of Alghero passed to the House of Savoy in 1720 and this marked the start
of a long period of steady decline. This continued right up until the fascist era
which resulted in heavy damage to the town during Italy's participation in WWII.
Tourist Boom
The removal, from the surrounding countryside, of malaria in the 1950s and the growth
in package holidays during the 1960s saw the start of a transformation in the fortunes of Alghero.
A large number of hotels and restaurants have been built on the investment in
the town and development has spread northwards alongside the cities sandy beaches.
Today, tourism has not completely overtaken Alghero and the town still retains
its distinctive Catalan identity with the local fishing industry an important
contributor to the local economy.
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