Emerald Coast or Costa Smeralda as it is known among the locals is located roughly between the villages of Baja Sardinia and Porto Rotondo in the island of Sardinia, Italy. Embraced by the Mediterranean, it spreads over 55km of coastline and offers a variety of beachfront resorts, rental villas, chic marinas, excellent shopping with exclusive boutiques and a sparkling nightlife – all this in harmony with the natural ambiance. The Emerald Coast consists of miles and miles of turquoise bays, coves and white sandy beaches. The Emerald Coast caters for a glamorous vacation and it attracts international jet setters. Its particularly elegant architecture comprises small, low, white buildings with soft lines that are in peace with the surrounding Mediterranean setting. The Emerald Coast owes its fame also to some of its invaluable nearby natural gems, like Cala di Volpe, an exclusive natural port where some scenes for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me were filmed.
Other stunning much-visited places include Grande Pevero, Liscia di Vacca, Liscia Ruja, Romazzino, with its transparent sea and white beaches, and Pitrizza. Dotted with white sails and crystalline waters are small islands such as the Isola dei Cappuccini, Bisce island, south of Caprera, Li Nibani, Mortorio island, the little Delle Camere islands and Isola di Soffi.
The wider area comprises interesting archaeological sites like the Li Muri necropolis that dates to the middle of the IV century BCE, the Nuragic complexes of Malchittu and of Albucciu, giant tombs and hut villages.
Emerald Coast is a pole of attraction for water sports fans who engage in swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. For shopping lovers, Porto Cervo, filled with pastel-colored residences, elegant archways and blossomed bougainvillea will be the place. A mix of hand-craft shops, as well as textiles and jeweler, are found along with international designers. Here the night is always young with sophisticated outdoor cafés and numerous lavish nightclubs.
Sardinia is the second bigger island of the Mediterranean Sea and it is a mainly mountainous region with a vast natural environment. Here you can swim at the beautiful beaches of Cala Goloritze, Cala Luna and Cala Sisine while Neptune's Grotto is also a well-known destination for its cave which can be reached by boat. Go to the Capo Caccia and take a photo of the wild scenery while the hikers will love the famous Gorropu Gorge. Don’t forget to visit Porto Flavia one of the most important industrial archeology sites in the world.
The birthplace of the Roman Empire and Renaissance, Italy, showcases many of the world’s greatest artworks, architectural buildings and over the top gastronomical proposals. This is the country where the word “style” expresses the whole nation. Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country; among them are Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Michelangelo’s David and Sistine Chapel and da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
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