Torre di Porta Terra
Piazza Porta Terra, Alghero, Italy, 07041
The last remaining vestige of Alghero’s defensive city walls, the half-moon-shaped Torre di Porta Terra, is one of the city’s medieval gems. Today, this stone tower houses a tourist information point, but from the 14th to the 18th century, it marked the main inland city gate and was closed each night from dusk to dawn to hinder attacks by land. A highlight of city sightseeing tours, this historic tower is one of the oldest town's most photographed sights.
The basics
Most Alghero walking or biking sightseeing tours include a stop at Torre di Porta Terra to admire its well-preserved remains that mark where the city walls—wholly dismantled in the 19th century—once stood. The tower offers a bird’s-eye view of the city from its rooftop terrace, accessible when the internal tourist information office is open. Pair a city tour with an excursion by boat to take in Alghero’s intact sea walls and spot dolphins off Sardinia’s western coastline or with a wine tour to the surrounding vineyard-covered inland hills, just a short drive from Alghero’s old town.
Things to know before you go
Today, Torre di Porta Terra houses a tourist information office where you can pick up maps and information about exploring the old town.
The stone tower has a unique half-circle shape, making it an enticing subject for photographers.
The tourist information office inside is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
When the tourist office is open, visitors can also take in the view from the rooftop terrace, which is only accessible via stairs.
How to get there
Torre di Porta Terra sits on the eastern edge of Alghero’s old town, marking where the inland city walls once stood. It’s a short walk from all the attractions in the compact historic center and from the ferry and tour boat port, so it's easy to visit during a sightseeing tour.
When to get there
The tower's exterior can be admired day or night; it’s dramatically lit up after sunset. However, to visit the internal tourist information office and climb the stairs to the panoramic rooftop terrace, stop by during business hours from spring through fall.
Alghero’s sea walls
The defensive walls protecting Alghero from attacks by land were dismantled in the late 19th century. Still, its ochre sea walls dating from the 16th century remain intact and are one of the most remarkable features of the old town. A promenade traces the top of the walls, offering a scenic walkway with the sea to the west and a line of buzzy restaurants and bars just inland. The route winds past a series of medieval watchtowers between Piazza Sulis on the southern end, Porta a Mare, and the marina to the north.
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