Emerald Coast

With its secluded coves and azure blue waters, Sardinia's magnificent Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) has been a popular summer holiday destination for Europe's jet set since the 1960s.

The northern Sardinian coast was mostly uninhabited until 1962 when Prince Karim Aga Khan Ismaili, attracted by the rare beauty of the place, decided to develop the area into an upscale resort destination. He enlisted master architects Michele Busiri-Vici, Jacques Couëlle, Savin Couëlle, and Luigi Vietti to create new structures that perfectly integrate traditional Galluran architecture with the surrounding environment. With its white-sand beaches, a golf club, private jet and helicopter service, and luxury hotels, the Emerald Coast soon became a key tourist destination for celebrities, business leaders, and other affluent visitors.

The heart of the Costa Smeralda is the picturesque town of Porto Cervo, which is home to the area’s major services as well as key residential areas including Romazzino, Piccolo Pevero, Pantogia, and Liscia di Vacca.

A wealth of recreational delights awaits residents and visitors of this charming town. Opened in 1972, the Pevero Golf Course has been described among the most beautiful in the world, not just because of the superior quality of the course, but also for the unforgettable charm of the panorama.

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda was founded in 1967 as a non-profit sporting association for sailing enthusiasts. Today the regatta calendar reflects the club’s development in two related yet distinct areas: organization of top-class sporting events for established and emerging competitive sailboat classes, as well as the development and promotion of super yacht events designed to bring owners, shipyards, designers, and the entire nautical community together at the club.

Polo has found fertile ground in Costa Smeralda, and thanks to the successful local debut of the sport in 2006, Porto Cervo has joined the ranks of the most celebrated competition venues in the world. Land of the beautiful game "Polo pitch" of Shergar Riding Center, in places Bucchi Toltu a few kilometers away from Porto Cervo. Polo matches are held between April and October. Other attractions include a film festival in Tavolara and a vintage car rally.

Culinary delights in the Costa Smeralda are plentiful and varied. Traditional dishes are simple and are prepared with great care for a genuine taste. Among the most tasty and typical first courses, the “Suppa Cuata” is noteworthy, while pig and lamb are the main second courses. There is also a wide choice of sweets, especially with honey and almonds among their ingredients.

In the northern part of the coast lies Arzachena, a place to visit not only for the sea and beaches but also for its archeological sites. Historic sites include the Li Muri “Tomba dei Giganti” (Giants Grave), and the “Nuraghe Albucciu,” the most significant element of the complex of an ancient Nuraghe village and Li Muri Necropolis.

How Many People Live in Emerald Coast?

Population: 13.083

What Languages Are Spoken in Emerald Coast?

Language: Italian, but English widely spoken

What is the Currency in Emerald Coast?

Currency: Euro

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