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Cala di Volpe, is a destination and an exclusive hotel, located on the breathtaking area of Sardinia, called Costa Smerelda. Discovered and developed by the Aga Khan, this area is noted for its exclusivity, extravagances, elegance and glamour. As you can imagine, Costa Smerelda means – Emerald Coast, because of the green sea surrounding the coastline. It’s as if someone color painted it different shades of green merging eventually into the blue Mediterranean.
In fact, Cala di Volpe is the crown jewel of this area of coastline which caters mostly to the super-super-rich and the very, very famous. Because of its inaccessibility except for the truly intrepid traveler, Cala di Volpe maintains an air of wealth and beauty. It’s a popular place for families, as there are sports and activities for people of all ages. And the young set – well, the nightlife is without peer in the Mediterranean. The Billionaire Club has long been a favorite hangout of all the visiting Hollywood Royalty, real Royalty, and all those billionaires from their yachts!
First, you may have seen this fabled hotel/resort/destination in a Bond movie? Remember in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, James Bond has a car which turns into a sub which turns back into an amphibious car? They’re being chased by the bad guys, through amazingly beautiful shots around the Sardinian coastline. To evade them, James launches the car into the sea; it dives, floats, and comes up at
CALA di VOLPE on the beach! Hotel guests are a little perplexed, but then again, with all that goes on there, this is hardly surprising.
In fact, one time when I was at Cala di Volpe, because it is a very restricted docking space, the big boats (i.e. yachts to the rest of us), are anchored offshore. The bigger the boat, the further offshore, and usually the richer and more famous the owner. So, on a glorious starlit night, a small fleet of tenders left the Hotel with James Brown and his entourage in tow. He had been paid a $1 million fee to perform for a Sheikh on his boat. Of course, everyone in the docking area and nearby beaches had the best outdoor concert ever performed. Moonlit night, stars bright, sea breezes, sipping champagne, and listening to the King of Soul – what more could anyone ask for?
The hotel is a series of conjoined buildings, using the concept of the Italian fishermen’s villages, modernized with every 21st century mod-con. Rooms, suites, shops, restaurants, nightclubs, patio dining, beaches for all kinds of sunbathing and watersports. It is a full service resort hotel, and for as long as you can, stay there, relax, leave all the driving behind you, walk, swim, boat but enjoy this little piece of Heaven under the warm Italian sun.
The nearest airport for the area is Olbia, with direct flights out of most Italian cities. Either a quick helicopter hop, or limo ride, and you’re through the mountains, see rugged, mountain sheep for a picturesque feel, and on to the area of The Costa Smerelda. Cala di Volpe is part of a larger coastal region, all easy to get too, but my advice is, book now into this part of Paradise, and just go and relax. You never know, James Bond might come flying by!!!
We’ll take a look at a couple of the other must visit places on this coastline. But for now, savor Cala di Volpe and make it a MUST destination for your next trip.
And just for the fun of it – those picturesque sheep, part of the local landscape and economy, Cala di Volpi (alley of the wolves) was so named because that was their chosen hangout when they came home from their killing sprees. See, it’s not all just for fun.
July 17, 2023
