Ringed by a splendid shoreline, Sardinia is an island of stunning scenery, unspoilt nature, spectacular beaches and impossibly blue, clear waters.

With its immense natural beauty that is blessed with forested landscapes, white sand coastline and sparkling turquoise sea, Sardinia exudes charming authenticity with an air of quiet exclusivity. Yet despite being the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, it has retained its sought after hidden gem appeal and offers a real estate market full of untapped potential.

Sardinia’s renowned coastline, which extends for over 1,800 kilometres, is home to some of the best and most pristine beaches in Italy, with everything from paradisiacal bays and golden sands, to stretches of wild, windswept dunes and rugged cliffs. According to TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers Choice Beach Awards, there are five Sardinian beaches in the Top 10 of Italy. Sardinia is regarded the pearl of all yacht charter destinations in Italy, and its ports are brimming with vessels considered the crème de la crème of the boating world.

Inland, the spectacle is no less breathtaking: an unspoilt and untouched verdant landscape that is wild and diverse. Within the island’s interior lies another world: canyons dotted with ancient mountain villages, forests flocked with chestnuts and cork trees, fertile plains of olive groves and vineyards, and golden fields filled with herds of sheep. Here, millenary traditions are being kept alive by the locals.

The key driver for many Italian and international buyers of property for sale in Sardinia is the island’s exceptional and undisputed high quality of life. Residents of Sardinia enjoy a gentle pace of living characterised by a closeness to nature and an affection for age-old traditions. Sardinia is, in fact, one of the few Blue Zones identified by National Geographic – one of five places in the world that can boast the highest concentration of centenarians. Sardinia’s secret, only partly due to genetics, seems to lie in the lifestyle, the quality of the environment and, above all, the rustic Mediterranean diet the locals follow, all completed by an enviably balmy climate.

A long-time favourite with the international jet set, the famously fashionable Mediterranean island has always been at the forefront of elegant Italian getaways. The quiet affluence of the northern regions of the island has contributed to stable levels of buyer interest, whilst the southern areas are gathering pace as the next lucrative property investment prospect. 

Costa Smeralda on the north-eastern stretch of the Sardinian coast is a prestigious holiday escape that is famous for its crystal clear waters, glamorous lifestyle and stylish waterfront villas.

Centred on Porto Cervo – the world-famous yacht harbour and marina, Costa Smeralda was developed for the international jet set by the Aga Khan in the 1960s and continues to attract international billionaires and celebrities of all nationalities. Yachts, designer boutiques, fine dining and a vibrant nightlife wrapped up in a beautiful natural setting make it the perfect playground for discerning property buyers. Waterfront properties in select locations in Costa Smeralda can sell for tens of millions of dollars which, by some measures, position them amongst the most expensive real estate in Europe.

Areas neighbouring Costa Smeralda along the peninsula bounded by Olbia to the east and Castelsardo to the west, are also popular with both foreign buyers and Italians.

Property in southern Sardinia has seen increased interest for second home ownership in recent years. Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, is a charming and historic city, filled with winding lanes and pastel-coloured houses.

Other areas along the south coast of the island that are growing in popularity as a second home destination are Villasimius and Costa Rei in south-east Sardinia, and Chia and Teulada in the south-west.

Buyers of Sardinia luxury homes and prestigious properties in Sardinia mainly originate from Northern and Western Europe as well as the United States. Italians are increasingly considering the possibility of a second home in Sardinia as a strategic investment.

There are numerous attractions to owning Sardinia real estate, with an exciting combination of cosmopolitan and luxury lifestyle with unspoilt nature, culture, history and natural beauty. Also, with the new supply of real estate heavily restricted, the natural environment fiercely protected and with growing demand from wealthy property buyers, Sardinia luxury real estate will only be progressing from strength to strength.