Compared with other Italian destinations, very little Porto Cervo practical information is available. This guide will get you started planning your trip to this picturesque Italian spot on the Costa Smeralda on the island of Sardinia.

Population

Porto Cervo is known as one of the most prestigious and luxurious resorts in Sardinia. During the tourist season, its population swells from 2,000 residents to over 20,000 people. Most tourists are Italian, although the international jet set has discovered the area.

Language

Along with the traditional Italian language, the locals speak one of the four different Sardinian dialects called Gallurese. Gallurese is heavily influenced by Corsican and standard Italian, but has various phonetic and lexical differences. However, it isn’t used very widely in Porto Cervo. Since the town is mainly a tourist destination, along with Italian, all major Western European languages are spoken.

Currency

The official currency used here, just as in the rest of Italy and Europe, is the Euro. The Euro is the second most traded currency after the U.S. dollar, with one euro being equal to around 1.22 dollars. One Euro is subdivided into 100 cents. It can be easily purchased in any European country.

History

An interesting fact that worth mentioning is that Porto Cervo was built in 1962 with the only idea to function as a sea resort. The construction was ordered by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV—an important Islamic leader, born in Switzerland. The resort itself was designed by the famous architect Luigi Vietti, who specialized in designing luxurious houses and villas, with Porto Cervo being one of his finest works.

Culture

Although not an ancient settlement, Porto Cervo preserves all the Sardinian cultural traditions. Here, you can try some of the finest Gallurese wines and the best in Gallurese cuisine—different types of bread, pasta and delicious homemade deserts. That’s definitely something you should do, if you’re in Porto Cervo.