Exploring Sardinia's Costa Smeralda and Beyond from IGY Portisco Marina
Immersed in Sardinian history and culture, rich in traditions, delicious food, wine, music and art, stands IGY Portisco Marina, the perfect base to experience Sardinia’s exclusive Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo, home to a series of world famous regattas.
Immersed in Sardinian history and culture, rich in traditions, delicious food, wine, music and art, stands IGY Portisco Marina, the perfect base to experience Sardinia’s exclusive Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo, home to a series of world famous regattas. It is also one of few European marinas capable of hosting superyachts with a large draft.
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and with over 1180 miles of coastline, it’s a paradise of coves and inlets, white beaches and turquoise waters, while inland there’s plenty to discover in a haven of unspoiled nature.
Setting sail from IGY Portisco Marina
IGY Portisco Marina is located on the north east coast, adjacent to the Costa Smeralda, home to the exclusive Porto Cervo, and is able to accommodate yachts up to 90 meters, with 589 berths available, 16 of which are reserved for mega yachts. With a depth of 10 meters, this is the perfect landing place for large sailing yachts and motor yachts above 35 meters.
Technical assistance for all vessel types is available in the marina which is well supported by the local infrastructure and network of professional subcontractors with whom the marina collaborates.
In the security field, recognition of the ISPS code (Ship and Port Facility Security Code) guarantees the training of personnel and the adoption of specific procedures by the navy.
“Each new IGY marina is carefully selected to fully meet the very high expectations of our customers, who come from all over the world. With the addition of Marina di Portisco to the IGY portfolio, we can be proud to promote Italy as a leading destination for nautical tourism," said Kenny Jones, IGY's Chief Operations Officer.
Caring for the marine environment
For over a quarter of a century, IGY Portisco Marina has been awarded the European Blue Flag every year, an award that rewards the eco-sustainable choices of the marina to protect its pristine and crystalline waters. The green spirit of the marina is evident in numerous initiatives, from the treatment water and solid waste to the use of renewable resources.
The deployment of Seabins is also a firm commitment, with each unit collecting around 10 kilos of floating micro and nano waste per week as well as oils and other polluting solutions thanks to a sophisticated filtration system.
In addition to conventional waste bins, the marina offers two collection points for non-recyclable waste such as batteries and oils and a solution for the disposal of edible oils, electronic components and electrical material has also been recently implemented.
There are also charging stations for the electric cars used by marina guests, and almost all of the electricity in the marina comes from renewable resources certified by the European Energy Certificate System.
Following the lead of the navy, IGY Portisco Marina is also investing in an osmosis desalination system capable of supplying water for all visitors and guests within the facility.
Nautical events and superyacht regattas
Thanks to its strategic position, a huge attraction for race fans is a bird’s eye view of the many high profile regattas organized by the Porto Cervo Yacht Club, such as the Porto Cervo Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the Rolex Swan Cup and the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta.
For lovers or history and culture, local attractions include Stella Maris, the famous church designed by Michele Busiri Vici, built in the 1960s, a sacred masterpiece of modern architecture. Nearby there are numerous archaeological remains, such as the Nuragic complex, La Prisgiona, and the sacred well of Sa Testa, dating back to the Bronze Age.
For white sand, crystal waters and a laid back afternoon, the nearby beaches of Portisco and Rena Bianca are among the best in the Mediterranean.
Exploring Sardinia by sea
IGY Portisco Marina is the starting point for numerous itineraries both on land and by sea.
Just three nautical miles from Portisco we find the uninhabited islands of Mortorio, Soffi, Le Camere and Le Nibani, but navigation in the vicinity of these islands is prohibited in order to preserve the local flora and fauna.
To the north we find the Maddalena archipelago, which includes over 60 islands and covers an area of 20,000 hectares. To defend the archipelago, the fortress of Monte Altura was built in the nineteenth century, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful fortresses in Europe.
The Pink Beach, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is undoubtedly the most famous beach of the archipelago, owing its rosy hue to granite dust and countless fragments of shells.
A few nautical miles from IGY Portisco Marina, we find the Costa Smeralda, with its 56 kilometers of pristine coastline. In addition to the exclusive and renowned Porto Cervo, this area offers enchanting beaches and coves, such as Cala di Volpe, Cala Liscia Ruja, and the Gulf of Pevero.
In the French part of the Strait of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica, we find the island of Lavezzi, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the island of Cavallo where you can spot dolphins, swordfish and marbled groupers.
Arzachena, Luogosanto and Aggius are located in the hinterland of Gallura, attractive and well-preserved villages where you can discover local craft and experience cultural and food and wine traditions.
This region is also home to important historical ruins from the Neolithic period, such as the tombs of the giants and dolmens.
Olbia is the modern day economic centre of north-eastern Sardinia, but traces of ancient civilizations such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, Punic, Carthaginians and Romans still abound.
Olbia Costa Smeralda airport is the second largest airport in Sardinia located just 18 km from IGY Portisco Marina.