Torre di Sant'Elmo stands on Alghero’s old sea walls in Sardinia, overlooking the harbor and the open water beyond. This 16th-century tower is easy to reach from the ramparts, with a short flight of stone steps leading to the viewpoint. A statue of the Virgin Mary, known as Stella Maris, crowns the tower and can be seen from the port. Walk the nearby Bastioni Magellano for views of the walls and glimpses down Alghero’s narrow side streets.
A tower on Alghero’s sea walls
Torre di Sant'Elmo is part of the fortifications that ring Alghero’s old center. The walls were built by the Aragonese in the 16th century. Earlier defenses date to the 12th and 13th centuries, when Alghero was a Genoese port.
The tower is named for Saint Elmo, the patron saint of sailors. Since the 1950s, its summit has carried the Stella Maris Madonna, a Virgin Mary statue associated with the sea. The figure is also why the tower is popularly called la Madonnina.
Walking the Bastioni Magellano
The tower sits along the final stretch of the ramparts known as Bastioni Magellano. From here, the route continues past other old-town towers, including Torre della Maddalena, Torre di San Marco and Torre di San Giacomo. Torre della Maddalena belongs to the Forte della Maddalena, the only surviving one of three forts built in the late 1500s.
Along Bastioni Magellano, look between the walls and the buildings for narrow lanes, pastel-colored houses, shuttered windows and balconies with hanging baskets. The tower can also be spotted from the sea when approaching or leaving Alghero’s port.
FAQ
Is entry to Torre di Sant'Elmo free?
Yes. Access to the viewpoint is free.
How do you reach the viewpoint?
A short set of stone steps leads up from the ramparts. The steps may not suit visitors with mobility difficulties.
When is a good time to visit Torre di Sant'Elmo?
Head there towards sunset for views over the harbor.
What is the statue on top of the tower?
It is the Stella Maris Madonna, a statue of the Virgin Mary placed on the tower since the 1950s.
