Olbia and Costa Smeralda for Cruise Passengers

Meeting at the port of Olbia or the port of Golfo Aranci, where there will be a first stop at a panoramic point to admire the Gulf of Olbia, the islands of Tavolara, Figarolo and the Marconi house.

PORTO ROTONDO, south of Porto Cervo, is one of the most important tourist destinations for the Italian and international elite. Situated around an almost circular natural bay, called by the locals “Poltu Ritundu”, it was founded by the Venetian counts Nicolò and Luigi Donà delle Rose in 1964. The vision of the two brothers was that PORTOROTONDO would become a “milieu” of artists and intellectuals, and the first to respond to the invitation were the sculptors Andrea Cascella and Giancarlo Sangregorio, then came Mario Ceroli, Renato Guttuso, Emanuel Chapalain and many others. All have helped make PORTO ROTONDO one of the most elegant and picturesque vacation villages in the Mediterranean.

Twelve kilometers from the glamour and luxury of Costa Smeralda, there is another world, the picturesque village of SAN PANTALEO. Set between peaks of granite, this little old town still retains the typical style of the villages of Gallura. In 1894 the shepherd inhabitants asked the bishop of Tempio Pausania for a religious and social centre and the pretty church, dedicated to SAN PANTALEO, was constructed. Since the seventies, a large group of artists have lived in the village, attracted by its timeless atmosphere and informality, far from the worldliness of the Costa Smeralda. Painters, potters and sculptors from all over Europe have created a bohemian community in SAN PANTALEO, working alongside an active group of Galluran artisans, skilled in handicrafts using wood, wrought iron, terracotta and ceramic. Every Thursday morning, there is a craft and food market, an unmissable opportunity to buy interesting pieces of art and fine local produce.

PORTO CERVO is the capital of COSTA SMERALDA, the most prestigious resort in Europe. It was created in 1963 by a group of international investors, like the Aga Khan, Patrik Guiness, etc.
Since its origin, it was designed to be the meeting place of the world's élite. For this reason, the best architects available in Europe at the time were invited to design this resort: Michele Busiri Vici ( church Stella Maris, Hotel Romazzino), Jacques Couelle ( Hotel Cala di Volpe ), Pierluigi Vietti ( Hotel Pitrizza ) and many others. They made a world revolution in architecture, changing forever the relationship between the buildings and their environment, imposing the idea that these two elements have to stay together, in harmony, in a natural way.

Baja Sardinia ( Cala Battistoni ) is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, even though rather crowded in July and August. Nearby there is the Phi Beach, once a fortress built against Napoleon in the XVIII century, now the most fashionable and glamourous bar, restaurant, nightclub of the Costa Smeralda.

From the terrace of Barrage in Palau, you’ll be able to admire an incredible panorama with a view of the islands of La Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Spargi, up to the coasts of Corsica.

Porto Rafel was created by the Spanish count Rafael Neville in 1960, and it is probably one of the oldest touristic resorts in Sardinia. Porto Rafael ever since has been the meeting place of the European aristocracy, a quiet but very charming place. It stands in front of the so-called “Nelson Bay” a place where the famous British admiral kept his fleet before going to the battle of Trafalgar.

The nuraghe La Prisciona is one of the biggest nuraghi in this area. The “nuraghe” is a kind of prehistoric castle or fortress built in the Bronze Age ( 3800 – 3000 years ago ). In Sardinia we have more than 7000 of them, and this makes the island the region with the greatest number of prehistoric monuments in Europe.
The ticket, not included in this tour, costs 4 Euro for the Nuraghe La Prisciona and 3 Euro for the “Tomb of Giants” Coddu Ecchju” ( a particular evolution of the Dolmens with a gigantic stone door in the front of it). If you are not interested we can skip this visit.