Places in Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Once landed in Olbia and only a few minutes past the town, you may already start enjoying the landscape with a number of white beaches and coves. Further ahead lies the famous Porto Rotondo, an exclusive holiday resort and marina with sparkling night life, designers’ shops and entertainments.

Multi coloured and cosy, Porto Rotondo has been developed around its marina, preserving the Mediterranean bush, with very low buildings and tiny lanes, sometimes hard to spot. Punta Nuraghe, spiaggia dell'Ira and spiaggia della Volpe are some of the main sea spots where motor and sailing yachts are usually harboured and where television starlets love to be pictured by paparazzi.

In spite of its glamour, the atmosphere is of understated elegance, where everybody is at ease and friendly, wishing only to enjoy the beauties this area promises. Before reaching the heart of Costa Smeralda there is a rural village, San Pantaleo, which is worth a short visit.

You will have to drive through its spectacular winding roads set among beautiful granite promontories. Costa Smeralda is a fashionable and exclusive holiday area immersed in a granitic land covered with Mediterranean bush and offering panoramic views over some of the most enchanting beaches and coves.

It stretches for about 55 km, luxury hotels and estates melt, almost unseen, with the surrounding thick bush while their perimeters are forced into the coastline frame not to alter the original shape. Porto Cervo, Liscia di Vacca, Capriccioli, Romazzino and Pevero Golf Club are the main locations with exclusive designer’s shops, luxury hotels and entertainments.

Further ahead the more recent settlements of Poltu Quatu with a great marina and Baia Sardinia. Porto Cervo has been developed around its marina considered the preferred docking spot of huge motor yachts.

The lively atmosphere is concentrated around its Piazzetta with open air lounges where to sip cocktails and watch people passing by wearing the latest designers’ outfits. Breathtaking coastal roads and dirt tiny lanes lead to some enchanting beaches like the one of Pevero, Baia del Principe, Liscia Ruia, Pitrizza, Capriccioli and Cala di Volpe just to name a few.

Also, the small islets of Mortorio and Soffi, part of the Arcipelago de La Maddalena, two pink granite rocks rising above the water of what seems to be a huge natural swimming pool. Slightly inland, from the small village of Abbiadori a winding road climbs up to Monte Moro where to enjoy a breathtaking view of the whole area stretching from Golfo Aranci to the Arcipelago de La Maddalena.