Overview: The jet-set strip of Sardinia, Costa Smeralda is a six-mile
(10km) stretch of coastline between the gulfs of Cugnana and
Arzachena on the island's northeast coast, which has become a
developer's paradise. Legend has it that a fabulously wealthy
consortium of businessmen first exploited this beautiful wild
coastal strip in the 1960s, backed by the Aga Khan. Today the local
villages and towns have become discreet up-market resorts crammed
with private villas, luxurious holiday villages, contrived
Mediterranean-style shopping malls, low-rise high-priced hotels and
huge yachting marinas packed with gleaming yachts. The main town of
the area is Porto Cervo, a crime and litter-free playground of the
rich with its ranks of pale pink and red villas climbing the hill
from the busy marina. The other favourite retreat for celebrities
is the town of Porto Rotondo, situated on a natural cove about 10
miles (16km) from Olbia, site of the international airport. The
town offers a wealth of beaches, nightclubs, bars and restaurants,
most clustered around its Piazza San Marco, and the marina. The
main attractions of the Costa Smeralda are the numerous sequestered
beaches, none signposted, which can be discovered simply by
following a dirt track down towards the sea. Among the most scenic
are Cappriccioli, Rena Bianca and Liscia Ruja, all south of Porto
Cervo.
Attractions
Garibaldi’sHouse : Famous revolutionary, Giuseppe Garibaldi, lived the last third
of his life on the woody, undeveloped island of Caprera, a short
ferry-ride from Palau on Sardinia. The trip to view Garibaldi's
house and museum is very popular in season, with visitors queuing
to catch one of the regular ferries to Caprera. Garibaldi came to
live in Caprera in 1855 after a 20-year exile from Italy. He led
his famous 1,000 Red Shirts on his campaign to conquer Sicily and
Naples from here in 1861. The elegant homestead has been preserved
as he left it. Tours of the property end with his tomb in the
garden.
Transport: Regular ferries from Palau to La Maddalena, main island in the Maddalena archipelago, from where it is possible to reach Caprera by a connecting bridge;
Opening time: Daily 9am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm
Nuraghe: The mysterious Nuragic people who arrived in Sardinia around
1500 BC festooned the island with about 30,000 circular fortified
structures. Today about 7,000 of these remain standing to be
marvelled at by tourists. The complex of Nuraghe in Barumini has
been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List and is the finest and
most complete example of this prehistoric architecture. The
Barumini site can be reached from Oristano or Cagliari on route 131
and turning off onto route 197. Other well-preserved nuraghe can be
seen at Sant Antine. At Nora on the very southern tip of the island
are the remains of an extensive Nuragic village including an
amphitheatre, forum, baths, temple and Kasbah. Other good Nuragic
sites are near Villanovaforru, Alghero, and Abbasanta.
Opening time: Most Nuraghe are closed afternoons and Sundays;
Admission: Most Nuraghe are free
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