Torre di San Giovanni
Largo S. Francesco 2, Alghero, Italy, 07041
One of a handful of 16th-century watchtowers that once protected the city of Alghero from attacks by land and sea, Torre di San Giovanni is one of the city's most striking examples of medieval defensive architecture. The tower’s Catalan-Aragonese style harks back to Alghero’s time under Spanish dominion, and its original vaulted ceiling and sandstone walls are remarkably intact, making Torre di San Giovanni a must-see for architecture buffs.
The basics
Alghero sightseeing tours on foot or by bike generally include a stop to admire Torre di San Giovanni from the outside or inside so visitors can take in the immersive multimedia exhibit promoting the city’s archaeological and natural heritage that now occupies the tower’s ground floor. Visit the tower with a city tour or on your own, then explore farther afield with a dolphin-spotting boat tour along Alghero’s impressive sea walls or with a wine-tasting tour in the vineyard-covered hills just inland from Alghero’s old town.
Things to know before you go
Today, Torre di San Giovanni houses #PLAYALGHERO, a multimedia exhibition in partnership with the city’s archaeological museum that is an ideal stop for families.
There is a small fee to access the inside of the tower and exhibition.
Visitors to the exhibition the restroom inside the tower.
The tower has a ramp at the entrance for wheelchair and stroller access.
How to get there
Torre di San Giovanni sits just inland on the eastern edge of Alghero’s old town, between Torre di Porta Terra and Torre di Sulis. You can reach the medieval tower on foot in just a few minutes from all of the historic center’s attractions and from the ferry and marina, so it’s easy to visit before or after a city or boat tour.
When to get there
Visit by day or night to admire the tower's sandstone exterior; the lighting after sunset makes it particularly beautiful to photograph by night. The interior is only open during the #PLAYALGHERO hours of operation: evenings from Tuesday to Sunday, plus Saturday morning.
Alghero’s inland watchtowers and how to visit
Alghero is known for its intact sea walls and waterfront defensive towers dating from the 16th century, but the city was also once protected by an inland city wall and network of watchtowers. The city walls are long gone, but fans of medieval architecture can still admire the three remaining towers. Torre da Porta Terra, once the city’s central city gate by land, today is home to a tourist information point and scenic rooftop terrace. Torre di San Giovanni houses a multimedia cultural exhibition, while the southernmost Torre di Sulis marks where the inland city walls and the sea walls once met. Today, it is the starting point for walking the waterfront promenade. It is open during special exhibitions and events.
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