Porto Torres

Porto Torres is a town in northern Sardinia. Its main attraction is the Asinara National Park. The Aragonese seaport tower is considered the symbol of the city. Other main attractions are the Roman bridge of Riu Mannu and the Basilica of Saint Gavinus.

The town includes two islands, Asinara and the smaller Isola Piana, which sit off the northwestern tip of Sardinia. The islands form the Asinara National Park. In 2020, the town was home to 22,000 people. It sits on the coast about 25 km (16 mi) east of Falcone Cape in the centre of the Gulf of Asinara. The port of Porto Torres is the second biggest seaport of the island, followed by the port of Olbia.

Founded during the 1st century BC as Colonia Iulia Turris Libisonis, it was the first Roman colony of the island. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was known as Turris. During the Middle Ages, the name became Torres, while under Aragonese rule it was called Lo Port. During the Savoy period, it became Portotorre. Since the 1960s, the official name has been Porto Torres.

In Porto Torres, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.

As in the rest of Sardinia, both the mistral (cool, dry wind from the north-west) and the sirocco (warm, humid wind from the south-east) can blow.

The Gulf of Asinara is bordered to the north-west by the island of Asinara and by the smaller Isola Piana ("Flat Island").

In winter, the temperature rarely drops below freezing, although occasionally it can drop to -2 °C (28.5 °F). Occasionally, such as in February 2010 and February 2012, there may also be a snowfall with light accumulation.

In summer, when the sirocco blows, it can get very hot, and the temperature can reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). In July 2009 it reached 43 °C (109.5 °F).

• 40.8416118.3778891 Ufficio Comunale Informazioni Turistiche, Via Bassu (Stazione Marittima), ☏ +39 079 504 80 08, info.turistiche@comune.porto-torres.ss.it. 09:00-13:00, 15:00-19:00. Run by Cooperativa L'Ibis (updated Jul 2017)

The town is very close to the main city of Sassari.

Alghero airport is the nearest one to the town (40 min. by bus).

• 40.8381578.3984682 Stazione marittima (Passenger terminal). The port is connected by ferries with Genoa (11 hr 30 min) by Tirrenia and Grandi Navi Veloci; Barcelona (11 hr 45 min), Civitavecchia (7 hr 15 min) by Grimaldi Lines; Marseille (17 hr), Propriano (4 hr), Ajaccio ((3 hr 30 min) by La Meridionale; Toulon (7 hr), Porto-Vecchio (3:15 hr) by Sardinia Ferries - Corsica Ferries ^{[formerly dead link]} .  (updated Jul 2017)
• 40.8389078.3992523 Linea Asinara, ☏ +39 345 3683626. Ferry service (1 hr 15 min) departs at least twice a day from Dogana-Segni quay to Cala Reale pier at the Asinara island. Single €10; return €15.  (updated Jul 2017)

A shuttle bus operates in the port.

• 40.8379238.3973384 Stazione di Porto Torres Marittima, via Ponte Romano. It's a terminus on the Porto Torres-Ozieri line with Sassari (15 min) in the middle. From Ozieri there are connections to Cagliari and Golfo Aranci (Olbia). There is no ticket office at the station, so tickets are to be bought either on-line, on board or at the tabacchi at via Monte Angellu, 16 (closed on Sundays).  (updated Jul 2017)

Buses to Sassari, Alghero, Castelsardo, Stintino (ARST), Olbia (Sunlines^{[dead link]}) and other destinations^{[dead link]}.

• ATP Sassari. 07:10-20:10. provides urban bus services in the town. Tickets sold at the news agents, tabaccai and also on board (+ €0.50). Single 90 min €1.20. (updated Jul 2017)

• 40.8321488.4007381 Basilica di San Gavino (Basilica di San Gavino, San Proto e San Gianuario), ☏ +39 348 8996823. Apr Oct: 09:00-13:00 15:00-18:00; May-Sep: 09:00-13:00 15:00-19:00. 11th-century proto-Romanesque church. It was first mentioned in 1065. Instead of the usual western facade and eastern apse, the cathedral sports two apses. The crypt holds several Roman sarcophagi. Atrium Metropolis at the back yard of the basilica is an archaeological area with excavations of pagan and early Christian necropolises. Basilica and crypt €3; + Atrium Metropolis €4.50; Atrium Metropolis only €1.50.  (updated Jul 2017)
• 40.840068.4175282 Chiesa di San Gavino a Mare, Lungomare Balai.  (updated Jul 2017)
• 40.8383848.3969883 ^{[dead link]} Antiquarium Turritano, Via Ponte Romano, 99, ☏ +39 079 514433. Tue-Sun 09:00-20:00. The museums features archaeological findings from the various life stages of the Roman city of Turris Libisonis. According to Pliny the Elder, the only Roman colony of Sardinia. In particular the remains of the Roman baths of the Palazzo del Re Barbaro are located there. €2; + archaeological area €3.  (updated Jul 2017)
• 40.83628.3919784 Ponte romano. Remains of the Roman bridge, the largest in Sardinia with its arches and a span of 160 to 170 metres (520 to 560 ft) on the Rio Mannu.  (updated Jul 2017)
• 40.8363088.4013895 Palazzo del Marchese. A "humble" Neoclassical palazzo built by the first Marquis of San Saturnino.  (updated Jul 2017)
• Neolithic necropolises.  
• Aragonese towers.  

• 40.8085158.4391755 Tenuta "Li Lioni" Ristorante Tipico Porto Torres-Asinara, Strada Statale 131, ☏ +39 079 502286. Mon Tue Thu–Sat 12:15–14:00 19:30–22:00 Wed closed Sun 12:15–14:00. Traditional Sardinian restaurant with dishes such as suckling pig. Generous portions. (updated Oct 2026)

• 41.0588.2761 Parco Nazionale dell'Asinara (Asinara National Park). On the Asinara island.  (updated Jul 2017)