Sardinia is the Mediterranean’s second biggest island, naturally meaning long coastlines and long seasons from spring to autumn. This, in turn, translates into an island highly diverse in landscape, history and culture, all of which makes it one of the top sailing destinations in the Mediterranean.
Along its more than 1,100 miles of coast, Sardinia boasts sheer cliffs, white sandy beaches, millennia old cities, crystal clear waters and a hearty and warm people proud of what they call home.
Among them mingle celebrities, millionaires and supermodels during the summer. The towns become a hive of activity, alive with the aroma of fragrant perfume and Mediterranean dishes, alive to the hum of summer visitors mingling in local bars.
Sardinia, however, is also the repository of placid bays, calm seas and serene hillsides. From the ochre, earthy rocks in the East, to the gleaming white cliffs and wild vegetation of Capo Caccia in the West; the island has a wealth of spots to be discovered from aboard a yacht. With so much to offer for all and every interest, it’s hard to pick which part of the island to visit. We contacted Silver Star Yachting, a luxury yacht charter company based in Ischia, Italy that have excellent knowledge of the yachting destinations in Italy, to help us pick the three most luxurious destinations to visit on the ultimate sailing Sardinia yacht charter holiday.
Cagliari
Italians know Sardinia as the “Isola del Vento” (The Island of Winds). Throughout each season it enjoys offshore breezes from the Mistral, the Ponente and the Scirocco and with an average of 300 days of sunshine per year Sardinia’s coastline is an extraordinary destination for wind sports of all kind. A Cagliari sailing charter is the perfect way to begin a Sardinian adventure.
Arriving in the harbour, a great walled Mediterranean city looms large with Pisan fortifications towering high above. The city’s interior is equally as impressive as its exterior. A dense labyrinth of paved alleys and cobbled streets leads you to Cagliari’s Castello quarter, a historical district with a cosmopolitan flair.
Cagliari is an ancient city, almost 3,000 years old. Cagliari, however, has managed to integrate the modern jet setter lifestyle into its antiquated city walls. Fashionable restaurants and every-flavour ice cream parlours rub shoulders with an immaculately preserved Roman amphitheatre and the city’s medieval Citadel. The city attracts visitors throughout the year for a glimpse of its breath taking coastal views.
Cagliari also claims one of Italy’s longest beaches, nearby Poetto Beach. Bars, private beach clubs and restaurants insure a vibrant scene there while great seafood and peaceful seaside strolls can also be enjoyed at the marina.
Porto Cervo
The Costa Smeralda remains Sardinia’s most famous destination attracting celebrities and influential figures, who duly arrive by yacht in search of the elegance and luxury that has long since been associated with the Emerald Coast.
The 10-kilometre strip of coastline to the Northeast of Sardinia is a veritable playground for those fortunate enough to charter a yacht there. The waters cover the entire spectrum of blues and greens and the coastline offers unlimited opportunities for diving and relaxing in the sun upon the myriad of bays, coves, beaches and cliffs.
While the nature is very much a charming reminder of Sardinia’s wild and agrarian heritage, Porto Cervo is a small, but civilised oasis among it. The small Mediterranean fishing village is both a quaint provincial town with miniature terracotta houses covered in wisteria and equally the northeast’s capital municipality, boasting a glittering marina and rows of superyachts.
Nestled in a beautiful, sheltered harbour, Porto Cervo is surely among the Mediterranean’s most welcoming and best-equipped ports. Summer wine festivals and superyacht regattas ensure a lively and warm atmosphere that permeates the local bars and restaurants. There, regional food and drinks are lovingly made by the owner’s themselves to the highest standards and served under the shade of a quiet veranda.
Alghero
To the west of Sardinia is Alghero, a delightful 12th century walled city with a distinct Spanish influence. Alghero typifies Sardinia with its rolling green hills, white sandy beaches and peaceful town and harbour. The historical town centre continues to bare all the hallmarks of its former Spanish colonisation. The local language, architecture and culture are inherently Catalonian. Stroll the quiet roads and experience the sounds and smells of the town’s modest boutiques and shops to be momentarily transported to the Gothic quarters of Barcelona.
At night, the town sparkles under the streetlights and the moon animates the Alghero’s numerous bars, cafes and restaurants, where excellent wine and seafood are served in regal quantities. By day there is plenty to explore from the long, empty beaches to the sharp, rising cliffs of an ever-changing terrain.
Â
