Exploring Bosa and Alghero, Sardinia

The last day of our adventures #fromalgherotobosa would take us to Bosa, a charming town of 8000 residents situated on the north-western coast of Sardinia and along the banks of the River Temo. I was eager to visit this town as I had seen photos of this charming pastel-colored town, reminding me of Burano near Venice, which I adore.

The group decided to take the panoramic coastal road from Alghero to Bosa, which we had been warned, is one with twists and turns. Once we got out of Alghero and onto the coastal road, the wild and rugged scenery was spectacular, and about those twists and turns, if you have driven the Amalfi Coast, this route is an easy hour’s drive. Make sure that if you are planning to stop every few kilometers to try and capture the beauty of the coastline like we did, it’s going to take you over an hour to get to Bosa.

For a Sunday morning, Bosa was vibrant and lively. The residents were out in the streets and it had a welcoming vibe. As soon as we arrived, we wasted no time in exploring this colorful town, starting in the center and eventually walking up to the imposing Malaspina castle, lying above the town.

Fortunately, local residents led the way as after a few turns, I was left completely disoriented. Honestly, I was so entranced by this adorable town, an instagramer’s dream, and really didn’t keep track of which direction we were going.

Walking through the streets, you easily sensed that the residents were fiercely proud of their town and culture. We were treated to a beautiful vocal performance on one street and outside some homes, artisan handicrafts were on display.

As one of the many #InvasioniDigitali events that took place in Sardinia in May, what I didn’t realize was that we were going to literally invade a person’s home. We were invited to enter a building, which looked like a set in a theme park, and not knowing what I was going on, I followed instructions and stepped in after the person in front of me. In a single line, we slowly climbed the steep and extremely narrow steps (see the video below) to the apartment on the top floor, the whole time, fascinated that people actually lived in this building.

When we reached the apartment we were warmly greeted by a lady and an anxious dog, probably shocked by the number of people coming into the house. The second I was onto the terrace, I understood what the fuss was all about. From here you had a postcard perfect view of Bosa, as well as the commanding Malaspina castle on the hilltop.

This was one of the most memorable moments as there were about 30 people on a terrace of about 15 sqm, all trying to find the perfect position to make the most of this photo op. Hilarious, when I think about it and thank you to the owner and dog who were extremely patient with us.

We could have spent the entire day in town photographing every millimeter of Bosa yet somehow our fearless leader, Alessandra Polo, prodded the group along towards Malaspina Castle. With the blazing sun overhead, the route continued to take us through narrow streets lined with color homes. An unusually hot that day, we often lingered in shady corners for a break, making the ascent even slower.

Eventually we did make it to the castle built by the Malaspina family in early 12th century. Today, the only remains are its exterior walls and towers along with the Church of Nostra Signora di Regnos Altos, which houses a 14th century Catalan styled frescoes. Walking along the walls, you have sweepings view of the rooftop homes, the river that leads all the way to the sea and the valleys. It was then that I discovered that Bosa is also renowned for Malvasia di Bosa DOC wine and for the wine enthusiast, there is even a Malvasia di Bosa wine trail.

While our visit to Bosa after the castle, the group continued their exploration of the countryside churches in the area surrounding Bosa.

For us, however, we chose to make our way back to Alghero as we felt it would be pity to miss out on a visit of historic center of Alghero. With a few hours to spend before dinner, we enjoyed a relaxing walking in this fortified town that’s steeped in history.

Alghero was founded by the Genovese family Doria in 1102 and it was only in 1353 that the Aragonese-Catalans, after a prolonged siege conquered the city, and expelled the locals. They, in turn, repopulated the town with their own people and as you walk through the streets of Alghero today, there is still strong evidence of Catalan influence.

Streets signs are in Italian and Catalan, and you’ll commonly find dishes paella and crema catalan on the menus here. You might even be surprised to know that about 20% of the residents still speak a dialect of Catalan known as Algherese Catalan.

I love beach towns yet Alghero stood out from others we have visited. The laid-back atmosphere, the wonderful energy, its history, the warmth of the people, the wild nature, and the sunsets all play a part in making this town so enticing.

That evening, as we walked along the bastion to Ristorante Angedras, locals and visitors alike were relaxing in one of the many bars and restaurants along this stretch, basking in the golden glow. Seated outdoors at Restaurant Angedras, we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect way to end our short stay in Sardinia.

We were treated to variety of creative, and phenomenal Sardinian dishes while watching the sun slow fall below the horizon. As the intense orange glow faded to shades of black we ended our 3-day stay on a sweet note: seadas, a divine pastry filled with pecorino cheese and drizzled with honey.

Alghero sure knows how to create unforgettable memories and it certainly has seduced us. We shall be back soon, Alghero!

A huge thanks to Hotel Catalunya, and The Blau Sky Bar for hosting us during our visit to Alghero for the Invasioni Digitali events and to Alessandra Polo from Instagramers Sardegna for organizing an unforgettable event. Thank you also to Bosa Tour for making all the arrangements in Bosa, and to Ristorante Angedras for provided an amazing dinner.