It all began with a notary’s desk in Olbia, a handful of dreamers, and a bay no one wanted. March 14, 1962. In a quiet office on Corso Umberto in Olbia, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, along with Patrick Guinness, Felix Bigio, André Ardoin, John Duncan Miller and René Podbielski, sat around a cluttered table…
Yachts, chandeliers, midnight swims and symphonies under the stars — Costa Smeralda’s parties became the stuff of legend. If the architecture gave Costa Smeralda its shape, and nature its colours, then its parties gave it a heartbeat. Between the late 1960s and early 2000s, this corner of Sardinia hosted some of the most extravagant, unforgettable…
The Costa Smeralda became the Riviera of dreams — a place where royalty, artists, and billionaires escaped the world to create their own. From the very beginning, Costa Smeralda was more than a holiday destination — it was a stage, and everyone who stepped onto it played their part in a real-life fairytale. The Aga…
How three visionary minds shaped the aesthetic of the Costa Smeralda — and set a timeless standard for Mediterranean elegance. If the soul of Costa Smeralda belongs to the land, its form belongs to the architects who reimagined it. From the very beginning, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV made a radical decision: he would not…
The coast that no one wanted became the epicentre of Mediterranean luxury — with a story woven between diplomacy, adventure and fate. Before the glitter of international fame, before yachts filled Porto Cervo’s marina and celebrities danced until dawn — the northeastern coast of Sardinia was wild and forgotten. The locals called it Monti di…
The extraordinary birth of the Costa Smeralda begins with an idea that changed Sardinia forever. In the late 1950s, Sardinia’s northeastern coast was considered inhospitable. The land was wild, rocky, and seemingly cursed by history: malarial swamps, harsh winters, and a lack of infrastructure made it unattractive even to locals. Fields close to the sea…
The involvement of Gianni Agnelli in the development of Costa Smeralda is a tale that intertwines the vision of one of Italy’s most influential industrialists with the transformation of a rugged Sardinian coastline into a luxurious destination. In the 1960s, Gianni Agnelli, the charismatic chairman of Fiat and one of Italy’s wealthiest individuals, was captivated…
The story of the Guinness family’s investment in Costa Smeralda dates back to the 1960s when Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, along with a group of investors that included members of the Guinness family, recognized the potential of the pristine coastline of Sardinia, Italy. The group envisioned transforming this rugged and untouched region into a…
Luigi Donà delle Rose was an Italian aristocrat and entrepreneur, best known for his involvement in the development of the Costa Smeralda region in Sardinia, Italy. Born into a noble Venetian family, Donà delle Rose was drawn to the beauty of Sardinia’s coastline and recognized its potential for tourism and luxury development. In the 1960s,…
Costa Smeralda, a breathtaking stretch of coastline in northern Sardinia, is renowned for its crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches, and luxurious resorts. However, the beauty of this paradise isn’t limited to its natural landscape; it also boasts remarkable architectural wonders, many of which can be attributed to the visionary work of Jacques and Savin Couelle. These…