Costa Smeralda, Mediterranean coastal area in northern Sardinia, Italy
Costa Smeralda is a coastal area in northern Sardinia between the Gulf of Cugnana and Arzachena bay, known for pale sand beaches and clear water. The stretch covers roughly 20 kilometers and is marked by granite rocks and Mediterranean scrub vegetation.
The Aga Khan began planning a resort along this coast in the early 1960s and commissioned architects to design buildings that fit the landscape. What was once a nearly uninhabited stretch became a planned resort with harbors and hotels.
The name comes from the emerald green color of the sea, visible from the cliffs on calm days. Many buildings follow traditional Sardinian forms with stone walls and low roofs that blend into the landscape.
Porto Cervo serves as the main town with shops, restaurants, and berths for boats. The coves and beaches are located along the coastal road and can be reached via smaller paths or nearby parking areas.
Near San Pantaleo lies the Li Muri necropolis from the fourth millennium before Christ with circular stone structures. This burial site shows that people lived here thousands of years before modern tourism arrived.
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