Porto Torres Sardinia Italy
11
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
CroisiEurope (7 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
In the commercial basin of Porto Torres, in the island's northwest. The centre is about fifteen minutes on foot along Corso Vittorio Emanuele: no shuttle is needed here.
Yes. The corso runs from the port up to the basilica of San Gavino, and the archaeological park lies on the way back down to the sea. The whole circuit is walkable without particular difficulty.
The basilica of San Gavino and the Roman archaeological park, barely two hours together, then a swim at the Balai cove within walking distance of the centre. Asinara, by contrast, takes most of a day and suits only long calls.
It is the largest Romanesque church in Sardinia, raised in the 11th century by the judges of Torres, and its shape is startling: an apse at each end and no main façade. Inside, a forest of reused ancient columns supports the nave; the crypt holds the relics of the martyrs Gavinus, Protus and Januarius, executed under Diocletian.
A great deal, beneath the modern streets. Turris Libisonis was Rome's first colony in Sardinia, founded in the 1st century BC. The archaeological park and its Antiquarium reveal mosaic-floored baths, paved streets and warehouses of the ancient port; beside it, the Ponte Romano carries seven arches across the Riu Mannu.
A national park off the coast, long a penal colony and therefore spared any tourist development. You reach clear-water inlets such as Cala Reale and move around by little train, guided vehicle or bicycle among maquis, former prison structures and empty beaches. Its stars are albino donkeys, unique in the world, grazing freely.
Only if the call lasts the whole day. The boat round trip takes up most of the time, and crossing schedules should be checked before setting out. On a short call, save the island for another journey.
Yes. Following the shore eastward, the small Balai cove with its church perched on the rocks makes a break the locals favour, within walking distance of the centre.
Unfussy seafood: Catalan-style octopus, spaghetti with sea urchin in season, pecorino and carasau flatbread, with a chilled Vermentino. The squares along the corso come alive in late afternoon for the passeggiata — the right moment for a farewell espresso.
It plays a different tune, and that is its advantage. Porto Torres has neither Alghero's reputation nor the Costa Smeralda's gloss: it is a port and industrial town that keeps its treasures at human scale, without crowds. Anyone after a Sardinian postcard will move on; anyone who loves Romanesque architecture and archaeology will be well served.
