Places in Porto Rotondo, Sardinia

Porto Rotondo, located within a short distance from Olbia, is 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, the Ira beach 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. Porto Cervo, the 'queen' of Costa Smeralda is just at hand's reach from Porto Rotondo and they both compete on getting the attention of international gossip headlines.

Driving south and away from the bustling atmosphere, you are struck by the view of Tavolara, a limestone island with impressive steep cliffs which is now, together with the surrounding area, part of Tavolara and Capo Coda Cavallo Marine Park.

Among its beautiful pink granite rocks you can see junipers, strawberry trees, myrtle and olive trees, all safe burrows of wild boars, hares, hawks, owls and barn owls. Reachable only by boat to enjoy its cove and beach, the island is inhabited by a few proud people including King Tonino, who runs the only restaurant on the island, located right on the only beach of the island.

The island of Tavolara is reachable by a short boat trip departing from Porto San Paolo.