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Alghero, town and episcopal see, northwestern Sardinia, Italy, southwest of Sassari city. It was founded in 1102 by the Doria family of Genoa and became a Catalan colony under Peter IV of Aragon in 1354. Emperor Charles V took up residence there in 1541. It is the only Italian town where the Catalan language is still spoken and where traces of the Aragonese architectural style can be seen (in the 16th-century cathedral). The 14th-century Church of San Francesco is another notable monument. An old fishing port, Alghero has modern beach-resort facilities. Coral fishing in season, fruit canning, sawmilling, and olive-oil production are the principal industries. Pop. (2006 est.) mun., 40,391.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.