Capo Caccia — Neptune's Grotto Smugglers' Stashes

Your quest for smuggler caches begins in Alghero's Piazza Civica, once named Piazza del Popolo. This historic central square, surrounded by 17th-century buildings, is dominated by the Palazzo Civico built in 1571. Since the Catalan Middle Ages, it was the site of public gatherings and important decisions for the city. It is here, at the heart of Alghero's life, that rumors of illicit trafficking originated, and where agents of Philip II of Spain, the sovereign who ordered the fortifications between 1570 and 1590, tried to unravel the threads of a complex intrigue.

Continue towards the Torre Sulis, a watchtower built in the 16th century. Approximately 20 meters high and integrated into the Spanish ramparts, it was crucial for Alghero's defense against Barbary invasions. Named after a local guard from the 18th century, it offers an unobstructed view of the Porto di Alghero. This historic port, developed in the 14th century under Aragonese rule, was the main export point for coral and a place of intense trade with Spain and Catalonia from the 15th to the 17th century. Smugglers used these sea routes to introduce their illicit goods, escaping the surveillance of towers like Sulis.

Your journey takes you along the Bastioni di Marco Polo, ramparts built between 1570 and 1620 under Philip II of Spain. About 3 km long, these bastions protected the city against pirates and were used until the 18th century for coastal defense. Passing through the Porta a Mare, the main sea gate built in 1571 with its typical Catalan-Aragonese ogival arch, you access the port directly. This gate, closed at night in the 17th century to counter smuggler incursions, is a direct testament to the security challenges of the time. It is along these walls that clues to past trafficking are revealed.

Exploring Via Carlo Alberto, the city's historic artery, you approach the Chiostro di San Francesco. This Catalan Gothic cloister, built in 1360 by the Franciscans, was restored after the 1734 earthquake. With its 32 double-level arcades, it offers a haven of peace amidst the bustle. Although it was not a smuggling site, its proximity to the ramparts and fortifications of the Torre di Porta Terra, built in 1570 to control Alghero's northern access, made it a discreet landmark for illicit activities. The monks may have been unwitting witnesses to secret passages.

Your investigation concludes at Largo Lo Quarter, an old military quarter that once housed Spanish troops. It is here, near the Torre di Porta Terra, that you will unravel the last threads of the smugglers' enigma. This thematic circuit in Alghero, Sardinia, will have allowed you to visit major monuments and understand the history of this fortified city, from its ramparts classified as national monuments to its thriving port. This interactive walk reveals how the heritage of Sassari was shaped by the struggles between order and illegality, offering an Alghero visit for families or friends, off the beaten path of traditional tourism, in the heart of the Porto Conte Regional Park.