Costa Smeralda, Sardinia; Maps & Beaches. 
To view the 360° tours, click on the small picture or marker. Porto Cervo
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| Porto Cervo | Church of Stella Maris |
Porto Cervo is the centre piece of the "Costa Smeralda" a creation in the '60's of the Agha Khan and a consortium who set about creating a resort for the super rich in a previously sparsely populated area in the north east of Sardinia. In that ambition they certainly succeeded and it has remained a magnet (predominantly in July and August) for footballers (and club owners), Hollywood stars and wealthy industrialists. The architectural style was carefully managed to create a moorish look and everything is well groomed if a little heartless. On a hillside overlooking the marina is the Chiesa di Stella Maris, despite its apparent age and organic shape this was in fact designed and built in 1968-9).
It is also home to (F1 Renault and part owner of QPR football team) Flavio Briatore's "Billionaire Club" where (if you can afford or choose to) you may even rub shoulders with the super rich and famous.
Beaches & Surroundings
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| Capriccioli Beach | Liscia Ruju Beach |
Of course there are beautiful beaches along the 50km (Sardinia in total has a generally open coastline of 1800km) of the Costa Smeralda ("Emerald Coast") the best known being Capriccioli and Liscia Ruja. Ten kilometres south of Porto Cervo is the exclusive resort of "Cala di Volpe" with its own beaches with nearby the "Il Pevero" golf course.
In essence you will either enjoy the "exclusiveness" of the Costa Smeralda (particularly in July/August and at the time of The Sardinia Cup in September ) or feel that the display of wealth and its somewhat unreal composition can leave you cold. Prices do fall dramatically out of main season but also do the open facilities.
Inland near Arzachena are various archaelogical sites including an example of a Sardinian bronze age "Tomba dei Giganti" (Giant's Grave).