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Torre del Portal (Piazza Porta Terra)

Erected at the expense of the rich Aljama of Alghero( the Jewish community) as certified by the document of authorisation by the catalan king Pietro il Cerimonioso dated 06 November 1360. Originally called Porta Reial, Porta a Terra during Savoyan period, it was one of the two entrances of the walled enclosure, instead the second access to the fortified citadel was by means of Porta a Mare. Furnished by a draw bridge which leaned on the great Gothic arch which is the actual framework of the monument for those fallen during the First World War, the Torre dels Hebreus (Jew’s Tower) rose in front of an artificial moat for protective reasons. On the ground floor one can immediately notice the vault in squared stone and the Catalan emblem in relief.

Torre dell'Esperò Reial (Piazza Sulis)

Built during the first half of the XVI century, probably on the site of another XV century tower circularly designed. It constitued one of the bastions of Alghero’s fortified town wall. In fact it reaches a 30mts height, 23mts of which start from ground level. The helicoidally staircase which gives access to the upper chamber derives from the thickness of the walls, five and a half metres wide. The ground floor hall is a beautiful example of Catalan-Aragonese architecture. Also known as the Torre Sulis, because of the housing as a prisoner of the tribune Vincenzo Sulis, hero of Cagliari riots against the French Army towards the end of the XVIII century.

 

 

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Torre de San Jaume (Lungomare Colombo)

This octagonal tower, characterised by a strong Gothic inspiration, rises on the boundary of the actual Lungomare Colombo. Built in the XV century it was flanked on the right by the Bastion of San Jaume and on the left on the Bastion of Misericordia. Also known as Torre dels Cutxos (Dog’s Tower), as in the past stray dogs were enclosed therein, it rises in front of the porch of the XVII century Church of Carmen.

The Bastion

These fortifications originally constructed by the Dorias in the 12th century were strenghtened by the Catalan-Aragonese to such an extent, that in the following centuries the ancient Bastions became a complex and effective means of defence.

 

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