Editing Alghero (section)

== Language and culture ==
[[File:Catalan dialects-en.png|thumb|Map of the Catalan speaking language.]]
A variety of [[Catalan language|Catalan]] is [[Algherese dialect|spoken in Alghero]], introduced when Catalans settled in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sardegnacultura.it/j/v/258?s=20218&v=2&c=2706&t=7|title=Sardegna Cultura – Lingua sarda – Il sardo – Altre lingue|website=sardegnacultura.it}}</ref> Catalan was replaced as the official language of the Island by Spanish in the 17th century, then by Italian. The most recent linguistic research showed that 24.1% of the people have [[Algherese dialect|Algherese Catalan]] as a mother tongue, which is habitually spoken by 18.5% and taught to the children by 8% of the population, whereas 88.2% have some understanding of the language.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.anthonymuroni.it/2017/05/11/agli-algheresi-piace-parlare-catalano-ora-vorrebbero-si-insegnasse-scuola/ |title=Agli algheresi piace parlare catalano, ora vorrebbero si insegnasse a scuola |last=Muroni |first=Anthony |date=11 May 2017 |website=anthonymuroni.it |trans-title=Algheresi like to speak Catalan, now they would like to be taught at school}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://lanuovasardegna.gelocal.it/alghero/cronaca/2017/05/13/news/gli-algheresi-vogliono-il-catalano-a-scuola-1.15332489 |title=Gli algheresi vogliono il catalano a scuola |date=2017-05-13 |work=La Nuova Sardegna |language=it |trans-title=Algherese want Catalan at school}}</ref> Since 1997, Catalan has had official recognition and national and regional laws grant its right to be used in the city. Currently, there has been a revival of the arts in Algherese Catalan, with singers such as [[Franca Masu]] performing original compositions in the language.<ref>Songs in Algherese available on official website [http://www.francamasu.com francamasu.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305032148/http://www.francamasu.com/ |date=5 March 2012 }}</ref>

Following a [[Rural flight|rural exodus]] from the surrounding villages towards the city, much of the population speaks or has some proficiency in [[Sardinian language|Sardinian]], in addition to Italian and Catalan. Historically, the spread of Catalan was limited to the city and part of the coast, as the surrounding countryside has always been populated by Sardinian-speaking people.

Moreover, the ancient part of Alghero shows many characteristics of Catalan medieval architecture. The 'algueresos' (Alghero inhabitants) usually refer to their city as 'Barceloneta' – 'little [[Barcelona]]' – because of their ancestry and fraternity with the [[Catalonia|Catalan]] capital. This Catalan population was the subject of an 1888 book by [[Eduardo Toda y Güell]]: ''Un poble català d'Itàlia: l'Alguer'', which restarted the connection between [[Catalonia]] and Alghero. The cuisine is a blend of [[Catalan cuisine]] and [[Sardinian cuisine]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.portodialghero.com/en/culture.html |title=Alghero History and Culture |website=portodialghero.com}}</ref>