Sardinia: Capo Caccia

From Alghero, we managed to use the not so frequent off-season buses to make an outing to Capo Caccia. We first took the bus to its final stop at the end of Capo Caccia, then walked up to Neptune's Grotto, caught the bus back toward Alghero (at Dragunara) to visit the prehistoric site of Nurghe Palmavera from the 12th century BCE!. Both Sardinia and Corsica are dotted with such sites. They are either insignificant or difficult to visit by public transport. We finally managed to score one.

The bus ride from Algher to the Capo Caccia Lighthouse took about 30 minutes. We took a quick look in the direction of the lighthouse and then immediately headed to the Torre del Bolo.








Then up to Neptune's Grotto.






We caught the last and only return bus towards Alghero at 12:04, and jumped off at Lazzaretto Beach, from where it's a 30 minute walk along the olive groves to the Nuraghe Palmavera Archaeological Site.




The Nuraghe Palmavera Archaeological Site was fascinating: Twin Towers + it's 12th-Century BCE!




In these two photos you can catch a glimpse of the Sea in the distance.




Site Plan.


Photos of the interior of the twin towers.






Before catching the return bus to Alghero we walked over to Porto Conte with its tower and lighthouse (3rd below), and a glistening view back to Capo Caccia (4th below).

Sardinia: Alghero

In order to catch some Easter processions, our itinerary for Northern Sardinia is rather zigzag, a distinct departure from our usual style. From Santa Teresa Gallura, bypassing a couple towns we'll visit later, we headed for Alghero, on the west coast.

Fortified by the Genoese, later controlled by Catalans, Alghero made an attractive base for us to explore the area. And we caught a couple of smallish processions on Palm Friday and Palm Sunday. Not to mention the concert and the sunset.

The bus from Santa Teresa to Alghero was scenic; however, the sea was angry. We also saw some agriculture out the window, not to mention an awesome view of the hill town of Castelsardo.






We followed a procession on the Friday night before Palm Sunday, the Friday of Sorrows (Viernes de Dolores) procession, lit by red lanterns. Short videos are third and fourth below.














The Alghero City Walls aka the Bastioni are very walkable and scenic. It's THE place to go for sunset, and views to the south.






We bought a 750ml bottle of "Liquore Bitter". It's basically the same as Campari but at one tenth the cost we pay at home. We mixed it with pomelo slices and ice = tasty.


The view at dawn from our apartment window.


Preparing the Palms for Palm Sunday.




The Duomo front steps on Palm Sunday (1st), and the interior (2nd).




The Palm Sunday Procession. Look for the amazing palm weaves, and the choir boy holding the PA pole.












And finally one photo of each of the two Sunday night concerts.

Sardinia: Santa Teresa Gallura

The shortest ferry from Corsica to Sardinia landed us in Santa Teresa Gallura from Bonifacio. Santa Teresa Gallura wasn't founded until the 1800s, and much of the buildings date back to only the 1960s' tourist boom, and it shows. The town is almost the antithesis of Bonifacio. Santa Teresa Gallura is as mundane as Bonifacio is dramatic. In fact, we could hardly think of less interesting Italian towns we have overnighted in, maybe the couple of towns near Rome airport. The thing it does have is the sea. In the summer, the town's population swells tenfold.

Originally we had ambitions of walking around Capo Testa. The strong winds kept us near town. We ended up scrambling among the granite rocks below town.

A sunny day on the ICHNUSA ferry.




Looking back to Bonifacio from the ferry.




First below, Santa Teresa Beach as seen from the ferry. Second, a video taken from the beach.




We took a short walk along the rocky coast.




We first spotted Longonsardo Tower from the ferry (1st below), then again on the coastal walk (2nd), then from the Belvedere (3rd).






City Center


A cat at the ticket window.


The Thursday Fruit and Vegetable Market.