Well-equipped ground floor apt in the historic centre of Alghero, free WIFI

Low season rates available. Fully equipped ground-floor apartment with free WiFi in the romantic heart of Alghero's historic old town with all amenities, bars, restaurants, market, shopping, theater, etc close by. The famous Bastioni sea wall is a 2 min stroll away and the harbour, marina and beach only 5 to 10 mins on foot. Alghero is home to many artists, one of whom has decorated the apartment with murals. The apartment is in the traditional Alghero Old Town style. It is accessed from the cobbled street, and the front door has a large metal security gate that means the large front doors can be left open if so desired. It has a powerful air conditioning unit and a large wall mounted fan. Its thick walls keep it cool in summer and snug in winter. The apartment consists of a double bedroom, bathroom with shower and kitchen/living room. It has a king-size bed, one single sofa bed, and one sofa in the lounge that does not convert, but could accommodate a small person. It has a large LCD TV, DVD player, HiFi, PlayStation and games, induction hob, combination microwave-convection oven, kettle, washing machine, under-counter fridge-freezer, etc. Rental includes free WiFi, beach towels, and use of some beach equipment. This well-equipped apartment is ideal for city or beach breaks or as a base for exploring the island. At 35 m², it is best suited for 2 to 3 , or 4 if the sofa is used as a cot or small bed. A separate cot can be supplied if required. ____________ SPOTLIGHT: Summer in Alghero sizzles! In summer it is all about the beaches, and people taking full advantage of the stunning weather. Of course, all the other Alghero attractions remain, should you need a day off from sea and sand. May/June and September/October have always been our favourite times of the year to go to Alghero. Alas, now that the kids are at school we can no longer take advantage of the cheaper flights, fabulous weather (hot, but not quite scorching), and the considerably thinner crowds. So if you are not tied to the school holidays, why not consider coming to fabulous Alghero in May/June or September/October? DON'T FORGET: St Michael's Day festival at the end of September. St Michael is the patron saint of Alghero. Festivities take place over a number of days and include a 30 min fireworks display is the historic port at 20:30, early enough for the kids to attend, bands in the piazzas, nightly street stalls with arts, crafts, torrone (local nougat), etc, street entertainers, and good times by all. Take advantage of the late summer sunshine, temperatures that often reach around 30 degrees, and the lower prices as the season winds down slowly. New Year (Capo D' Anno) is fantastic, with stages in most of the piazzas in the Old Town playing a variety of live music, with street entertainers everywhere. Bars and restaurant are full to the brim, with people coming in from miles around, and most places serve special set menus that are not too expensive. Then there is the massive fireworks display in the harbour at midnight, which kicks off the next phase of the party (usually a well-known perfomer with live band on a big stage in the harbour) lasting well into the early hours. Late winter and carnival There are many religious festivals all over Sardinia, with many of them centered around Alghero. Many colourful religious processions, a children's carnival in February, people with whips in scary masks wandering around in the winter sun - what more could you ask for in the off-season, when everything is cheap and the crowds are mostly local? _______________________________ Sardinia and Alghero history: While Sardinia was settled about 6000 years ago (archaeological sites, such as the mysterious Nuraghe villages and burial sites, are everywhere), the town of Alghero was founded in 1102 AD by the Genovese and remained under Doria control for centuries. After that the Catalan-Aragonese took over in 1353, and Alghero stayed under Catalan/Spanish control until the 18th Century, in the period acquiring its distinct ‘Gothic’ architecture and Catalan feel, and its nickname 'Barcelonetta'. Street names are still in Catalan and Italian, and along with Italian and Sardinian (which is a language quite close to Latin) Catalan is still spoken in Alghero. This unique blend of Italian and Catalan is reflected not just in the Alghero architecture, but also in its cuisine and cultural practices, such as the Easter processions, Carnival, and other festivities. _______________________________ About the owners When we bought this apartment, we were living and working in London, so escaping to Alghero five or six times a year, whether for a long weekend or a whole month, was glorious, just the tonic we needed. Even now after many years and dozens of visit, when the taxi drops us in the Piazza Teatro thirty meters from out front door and we smell that sweet, fresh sea air (and maybe some fried garlic and tomato), all worries just drop away. Sardinia magic: We wanted a place in Sardinia, which is one of the most beautiful and interesting places on earth - so what more can we say? It's got the great weather, the stunning architecture, the white beaches and turquoise sea, the fresh food and the local vino, the friendly people and the vibrant culture. It's very peaceful, and everything tastes better here. I kid you not, this is literally true, the local veggetables and olive oil are fantastic, no doubt due to the extra sun and rich soil. Alghero Old Town magic: We wanted something in the Old Town, which we love. Alghero is nice wherever you are (OK, there are some uninspiring neighborhoods further out), but the Old Town is something truly special. We have traveled widely and have seen lots of places, but the Old Town ('centro storico') was where we wanted to come back to again and again. The apartment we were looking for had to be near everything (no car needed), but still be quiet and peaceful during the day (to work from home, sometimes for a few weeks on end) and at night (to sleep!), and this apartment offered that. It also has high ceilings, some stunning design features (artfully exposed brickwork, the terracotta floor, murals, the vaulted ceiling in the bedroom), and yet all the modern amenities.