Cattedrale di Santa Maria

Alghero


Overlooking Piazza Duomo, Alghero’s oversized Cattedrale di Santa Maria appears out of place with its pompous neoclassical facade and fat Doric columns. An unfortunate 19th-century addition, the facade was the last in a long line of modifications the hybrid cathedral has endured since it was built, originally on Catalan Gothic lines in the 16th century. Inside it’s largely Renaissance, with some late-baroque baubles added in the 18th century.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Alghero attractions

1. Campanile

0.02 MILES

Rising above the historic centre, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria's 16th-century campanile is one of Alghero's signature landmarks. The tower, accessible…

2. Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra

0.02 MILES

This museum of religious art, in the former Oratorio del Rosario, houses religious artefacts from the Cattedrale di Santa Maria, including silverware,…

3. Porta a Mare

0.06 MILES

This gateway, one of two entrances to the medieval city, links Piazza Civica with the marina, passing through the city walls.

4. Piazza Civica

0.06 MILES

Just inside Porta a Mare, Piazza Civica is Alghero’s showcase square. In a former life it was the administrative heart of the medieval city, but where…

5. Palazzo d'Albis

0.07 MILES

Overlooking Piazza Civica, this Gothic palace was the governor's residence and famously hosted the Spanish emperor Charles V in 1541. It's now home to the…

6. Chiesa di San Francesco

0.09 MILES

Alghero's finest church is a model of architectural harmony. Originally built to a Catalan Gothic design in the 14th century, it was later given a…

7. Sea Walls

0.1 MILES

Alghero's golden sea walls, built around the centro storico by the Aragonese in the 16th century, are a highlight of the town's historic cityscape…

8. Torre della Maddalena

0.1 MILES

Also known as the Torre di Garibaldi, this tower was incorporated into the Forte della Maddalena in the late 16th century.