The province of Sassari covers a big area on the north west of the island with some famous towns and locations like Alghero, Stintino, Castelsardo and the Asinara National Park on the island of Asinara.HOTEL SS The Asinara island lies in the west stretch of the homonymous gulf, at less than three km from mainland Sardinia and has been banned to human settlements after being declared a quarantine area and high security prison in 1885, two events which forbade entry to the island until a decade ago when it became a National Park. It is home to some rare animals, including a population of wild albino donkeys from which the island takes its name. Access is easy and direct from Porto Torres harbour where an admission ticket must always be bought before boarding. Sassari is the main city where the modern urban asset and the old city centre are embraced together affording and undeniable charm. It boasts a highly reputed university founded during the middle ages and a number of interesting sites like the pre-historical monument of Monte d'Accoddi known as well as the 'Ziggurat', its medieval city walls, the enchanting Piazza d'Italia surrounded by neo-gothic palaces. The Museo Sanna boasts a remarkable collection of pre-historic to Phoenicians and Romans artefacts. The whole area is blessed with excellent weather all year round and the beaches are just as beautiful. Like the small fishermen village of Stintino and its Spiaggia della Pelosa, truly the queen of beaches, with a long stretch of fine white sand and crystal clear shallow water.HOTEL SS Within a short distance the small coves of Cala Isola dei Porri and Cala Coscia di Donna are accessible only by boat unless you are prepared to take on a quite difficult walk along a steep pathway. Alghero, the Catalan city, is the star of entertainment, perfectly combining sea holidays and sparkling nightlife with clubs, bars and shopping area. Although beach hopping is definitely the main activity in the area, a boat trip to the Grotte di Nettuno (caves) at the bottom of the Capo Caccia promontory is a great experience not to be missed. They are located not far from Alghero and are accessible by car as well, although there are 656 steps before reaching the entrance. But the effort is well rewarded by the striking view of the 130 m wide lake lying inside the cave with a depth ranging from one to ten metres and wave motion during sea storms. On the right side of the lakeshore there's a small beach, once inhabited by the monk seal and then a small path leading to a number of big chambers with stalagmites and stalactites from ground to roof. Another interesting location where to spend a day or an afternoon is Castelsardo, a small fortified village on a steep rock overlooking the gulf and located just after the beach of Platamona or, more inland, the village of Pattada, halfway between Sassari and Nuoro, mainly known for its century-old production of the pattadese, the traditional Sardinian knife featuring ivory, red wood or mouflon horn slabs handles, finely engraved and rich in gold inlays.