Porto Cervo is a coastal hamlet of Arzachena and it’s considered the most vibrant town of the Costa Smeralda.
In the 1960s, Prince Karim Aga Khan, who loved the area, purchased miles of coastline and decided to build the harbour (Porto Vecchio) and the tourist town, with the help of top French and Italian architects Jacques Couelle and Luigi Vietti. Soon, Porto Cervo became a popular VIPs hideaway famous not only for its luxury yachts and its buzzing nightlife, but also for its natural landscape made of crystal-clear water, pink granite rocks, and white sandy beaches surrounded by juniper trees.
The beaches
– Liscia di Vacca beach: located just 350 metres from Il Giardino degli Oleandri, it takes the name from the tiny pebbles that characterise the shore. The beach is small, with fine, light-coloured sand and rocks; the water is clear with a shallow, sandy and pebbly bottom. The beach offers several facilities and it’s particularly suitable for children.
– The Pevero beach is the most famous cove of the area and it consists of two beaches: the Piccolo Pevero beach and the Grande Pevero beach. Both are located just 3 kilometres from Porto Cervo, and both have cafés, restaurants, shops and services. Both beaches are particularly suitable for children.
– Cala Capriccioli is surrounded by granite rocks and Mediterranean maquis and it is characterised by small beaches of fine, light-coloured sand. Its Gallurese name means ‘little goats’, because of the large goat-shaped rocks that form various coves. Cala Capriccioli is equipped with all services and rentals and it is also wheelchair accessible .
– Romazzino: named after the evergreen “rumassinu”, rosemary in Gallurese, a fragrant herb that grows in this area. The turquoise water and the medium-coarse sand make this beach one of the most popular of Porto Cervo.
– Liscia Ruja/Long Beach has shallow waters and white sand surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. This wide beach, perfect for families, is equipped with all services.
– Principe Beach: it’s located along a rocky path that leads to a small cove with shallow water. Its incomparable colours made it the favourite of the Aga Khan, from whom it also took its name.
Attractions
The town centre is built around the panoramic terrace of the famous Piazzetta, from which wind alleys and narrow steets full of boutiques, jewellers and fashionable restaurants. Porto Cervo overlooks a natural harbour, whose shape resembles the one of a deer.
A stroll along the quays of the Porto Vecchio and the Porto Nuovo is a must to admire some of the most beautiful and luxurious boats in the world. Porto Cervo is also renowned for its shipyard and it has been awarded with the Blue Flag for marinas.
Don’t miss a visit to the Stella Maris Church: the building is a particular example of Mediterranean architecture designed by architect Michele Busiri Vici.
Porto Cervo is famous for VIPs, glamorous parties in the most exclusive clubs, and luxury shopping, but the town offers attractions and entertainment for everyone.
Diving and boat trips lead to the beautiful coves in the area where it is also possible to spot dolphins and even whales. One of the most popular destinations is the island of Caprera, near La Maddalena.
Sport enthusiasts will appreciate water-skiing, windsurfing, playing tennis or golf at the Pevero Golf Club.
Racing enthusiasts won’t miss the international events organised by the famous Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
Gregoland is a children’s playground surrounded by greenery and the Mediterranean maquis entirely dedicated to kids.
For Trekkers we recommend the famous Pevero Health Trail with its various levels of difficulty, excursions to the Monti Zoppu nature reserve and trekking around the coves.
The town also offers food and wine events with tastings, gourmet dinners and concerts: the most famous events are the Porto Cervo Wine Festival in May and the Porto Cervo Food Festival in September.
Typical dishes
The dishes of the culinary tradition definitely deserve a taste: Zuppa gallurese (a traditional first course, made with layers of bread soaked in meat broth and gratinated in the oven with cheese), Li Chiusoni (fresh handmade gnocchi) with wild boar meat sauce, Fascjoli e Taddarini (a thick soup with beans and tagliatelle), Lu Casgiu Furriatu (grilled cheese with cream and served with honey), Li Acciuleddi e meli (a typical Gallura dessert, made with fried dough dipped in honey and in orange zest) and la crema gadduresa (a delicious creamy dessert).
The traditional restaurants serve also all the typical Sardinian dishes, such as roasted suckling pig, culurgiones and seadas, but also fish dishes paired with the excellent Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, a white wine produced in this area of Sardinia.
