Villa Porto Cervo

Built by the Aga Khan's original development company in the 1960s and extensively renovated in 2021, Villa Porto Cervo occupies one of the most commanding positions on the Costa Smeralda. The property includes a 25-metre berth at the Porto Cervo marina, accommodating yachts up to 30 metres. Six bedroom suites face the Maddalena archipelago, and the grounds include a full-sized bocce court, outdoor kitchen, and a granite-edged infinity pool. The Costa Smeralda was invented in 1962 when the Aga Khan assembled a consortium to develop a 55-kilometre stretch of northeastern Sardinian coastline. The architects were instructed to build in harmony with the landscape: low profiles, natural stone, terracotta roofs, and no building taller than the surrounding juniper trees. Villa Porto Cervo is a product of that original vision, and the 2021 renovation honoured the architectural constraints while modernising every system. The renovation replaced the 1960s kitchen, bathrooms, and mechanical systems while preserving the granite walls, the low-pitched roof, and the overall footprint. New additions include a granite-edged infinity pool (the original pool was a simple rectangle), a professional outdoor kitchen with a charcoal grill and pizza oven, and a climate-controlled wine cellar beneath the main house. Six bedroom suites are arranged in a single-storey layout that fans out from a central living area, each with its own garden entrance and terrace facing the Maddalena archipelago. The master suite has a private outdoor shower, a dressing room, and a bathroom with a freestanding granite bathtub. The layout means that guests never have to walk through common areas to reach their rooms - a feature that works well for groups travelling together who want privacy. The 25-metre marina berth is a significant practical advantage. Porto Cervo is one of the Mediterranean's premier yachting harbours, and berth availability during July and August is limited and expensive. Having a dedicated berth means guests can keep a chartered yacht at the property's doorstep rather than anchoring offshore. The marina is also the social centre of the Costa Smeralda, with restaurants, boutiques, and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda within walking distance. The bocce court is built to competition specifications and set under mature olive trees - a proper Italian evening activity after dinner on the terrace. The concierge can arrange boat trips to the Maddalena archipelago (30 minutes), the pink-sand beach of Budelli (45 minutes), or the town of La Maddalena for seafood restaurants that serve the morning's catch.