Inside Forte Village, Sardinia's Ultimate Luxury Resort Destination

Forbes

14 hours ago

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean behind Sicily, ranks among Italy's most stunning and fascinating destinations. The last of the country's 20 regions to unify with the mainland in 1861, the 9,300-square-mile isle still maintains a notable independent streak. Sardo, the local language, is not an Italian dialect but a distinct Romance language family, preserving many features of Latin lost by other tongues long ago. Age-old traditions endure, like cantu a tenore– traditional shepherds' songs–recognized on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. Giara horses, the only wild horses in Europe, have roamed the island for thousands of years.
Forte Village, one of Europe's most unique resorts, spans some 120 acres along Sardinia's idyllic southern coast. Forte Village
Meanwhile, Sardinia's beaches–all 1,150 miles of them–are renowned worldwide for their powder-white sands and sapphire-blue waters so limpid they're virtually otherworldly. In the 1960s, these idyllic shores spurred a tourism boom that created the Costa Smeralda ('Emerald Coast') in the island's northeast, now a perennial playground for glitterati from all corners of the globe. But arguably, Sardinia's most intriguing resort lies some 200 miles away, on the island's idyllic southern coast. Comprising some 120 acres of verdant gardens and greenery in the picturesque enclave of Santa Margherita di Pula, Forte Village Resort is a world unto itself, spanning one of Italy's most dazzling stretches of coastline. And given the luxury resort destination's seemingly countless options for compelling ways to while away the blue-skied, diamond days–from world-class dining and wellness to top-tier sports academies, for starters–it's literally impossible to run out of things to do.
The resort encapsulates a true world unto itself. Forte Village
With four five-star properties (among its eight hotels), more than 40 elegant suites, and 13 ultra-private villas, the sprawling resort offers luxury accommodations to suit virtually every taste, whether steps from the sparkling white sands, or nestled amidst the property's 3,000 varieties of native plant species.
An elegant, terracotta-colored palace, Hotel Il Castello presides over a pristine swath of beachfront as the grande dame of Forte Village's five-star offering. Besides amenities including a heated infinity pool exclusively for guests and direct beach access, the hotel recently unveiled a redesigned lobby and bar, Bar Bandiere—a Mediterranean-inspired, soignée spot for an Aperol Spritz or an ice-cold glass of prosecco.
The rooftop Real Suite's amenities include a private infinity pool and dazzling vistas for miles. Forte Village
Sumptuous suites on the Executive 4th and 5th floors, newly renovated this season, feature private elevator access, dedicated reception, and spacious terraces with sweeping sea views. At more than 1,000 square feet, the brand-new Perla Suite redefines oceanfront opulence with an airy, open-plan layout, two sun-splashed verandas, and bespoke furnishings galore. Those looking for the height of luxury will beeline to the 1,500-square-foot, rooftop Reale (Royal) Suite, which features an 1,100-square foot sun terrace, a private infinity pool and jacuzzi, and panoramic views for miles.
The new Perla Suite features an open-plan layout and plenty of outdoor space. Forte Village
For a decidedly different ambience, the Villa del Parco & Spa is Forte Village's most tranquil hideaway. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, the property is tucked away amidst exuberant verdure steps from the resort's renowned Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa, drawing wellness-focused travelers and discerning couples.
Shrouded by tangles of gorgeous greenery, the Villa Parco Hotel & Spa is a perfect hideaway for couples. Forte Village
The refurbished Hotel Le Dune exudes beachfront elegance just steps from the shoreline. Its sun-splashed Deluxe Bungalows, newly reimagined this season, feature more spacious interiors and enhanced outdoor areas with private patios surrounded by secluded gardens teeming with foliage.
Hotel Le Dune's newly revamped bungalows showcase chic interiors and enhanced gardens. Forte Village
And tucked away in a centuries-old pine grove, Hotel Pineta is an oasis for larger families, with double and triple rooms and an enticing, lagoon-style pool that meanders through the lush environs.
Speaking of families (and friends), Forte Village's 13 private villas–each with two to four bedrooms, a heated pool, manicured gardens, and 24-hour butler service–are spacious options for multi-generational vacations and milestone celebrations. One of its most luxurious, the two-story Villa Elina, was expanded to four bedrooms this season with the addition of a new suite.
The addition of a new suite this season makes Villa Elina one of the resort's largest, most luxurious private accommodations. Forte Village Exceptional Restaurants from Culinary Icons
Peerless gastronomy is a cornerstone of Italian culture–a perennial point of pride that Forte Village champions with one of the most dynamic and diverse culinary landscapes in luxury hospitality. The resort operates 21 restaurants during the high season, helmed by more than 100 chefs–including some of the most celebrated icons in the culinary world.
Heinz Beck's Beachcomber restaurant offers a master class in seaside elegance. Forte Village
Case in point: Heinz Beck–the charismatic maestro behind the iconic La Pergola, Rome's only three-Michelin-starred restaurant­–first unveiled his seaside Beachcomber restaurant at Forte Village in 2019, and he's back this summer, personally overseeing operations with his signature aplomb. Overlooking the beach and the cyan sea beyond, the breezy alfresco eatery serves up dishes like barbecued Amberjack with parsnip and Kefir lime, followed by gnocchi with spinach cream, mussels, lemon, and caviar, and washed down with a crisp vintage from a wine cellar stocked with more than 600 premium labels. Tables draped in pastel-hued linens and adorned with fresh flowers amplify a casually elegant ambience that's la dolce vita at its best.
Last month saw the opening of Forte Village's newest fine-dining destination: Ristorante da Cracco, a pop-up from Michelin-starred chef and Italian TV personality Carlo Cracco. The culinary force behind Milan's acclaimed Cracco in Galleria marries tradition and innovation in plates like handmade ravioli stuffed with Sardinian suckling pig and smoked scamorza cheese foam; and langoustine with saffron zabaglione sauce, served on an intimate oceanside veranda to a soundtrack of tides lapping the shore.
Ristorante Belvedere serves up an artful fusion of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine on a scenic terrace amidst the treetops. Forte Village
Meanwhile, over on the treetop-ringed rooftop terrace at Hotel Villa del Parco & Spa, Chef Giuseppe Molaro–of Michelin-starred Contaminazioni, located near Naples–deftly fuses Japanese techniques and ingredients with Mediterranean inspiration at Ristorante Belvedere, where dishes like tuna tartare with seaweed vinegar and dried bonito; and tagliatelle with seafood ragout, parsley sauce, and crispy 'nduja earn rave reviews.
The remaining restaurant lineup leaves guests spoiled for choice. Ristorante Sardo, the resort's welcoming Sardinian eatery, celebrates the island's one-of-a-kind cuisine, including culurgiones –dumplings resembling wheat sheaves and filled with potato, pecorino, and mint; pane carasau , its beloved paper-thin flatbread; and pork and lamb dishes that nod to Sardinia's centuries-old shepherding culture . For inspired cocktails and sushi, it's tough to top the vibe at Tiki Beach, where colorful lanterns hung from the trees and a pulse-pounding soundtrack create a prime perch for a piña colada and a dragon roll. Thai and Japanese cuisine join forces with contemporary European influences at the new Chang Restaurant, while new Indian restaurant offers elevated street food options, while Pizzeria wows with sizzling pies straight from the oven.
The atmospheric Tiki Beach is a ideal stop for a zingy cocktail and a sushi snack. Forte Village A World-Renowned Spa Offering
Given its rarefied standing as a locale with wellness literally in its DNA–Sardinia was the first of the world's five Blue Zones to be identified, owing to its outsize population of centenarians, largely concentrated in its mountainous eastern region–it's no surprise that naturally therapeutic resources and world-class spa destinations abound on the island. And Forte Village hosts one of its most renowned.
Tucked away inside a four-acre tropical garden, the Aquaforte Thalasso & Spa offers a singular spa experience–led by its patented thalassotherapy circuit– that combines Sardinia's spectacular natural bounty with its age-old traditions.
The spa's renowned, six-pool thalassotherapy circuit draws visitors from around the world. Forte Village
Sardinia's connection to the healing power of seawater dates back to the island's Nuragic civilization of 1800 BC, which practiced water rituals aligned with lunar and astronomical cycles. The Greeks later embraced this reverence for the sea–'thalassotherapy' is derived from the Greek words thalassa (sea) and therapeia (treatment)—as did the Romans, who established renowned healing hubs like the Terme a Mare , whose footprint remains at the archaeological site of Nora, one of Sardinia's most notable landmarks, located close to Forte Village.
The regimen harnesses southern Sardinia's environmental advantages with an innovative circuit of six pools, each a different temperature and concentration of magnesium and sodium salt. Forte Village's unique microclimate, slightly warmer than Cagliari and its surroundings, enhances the seawater's therapeutic benefits, as does its unique constitution: due to its location, the Gulf of Santa Margherita di Pula's waters are shielded from extreme winds, while the ocean temperature never falls below 50 degrees, even in winter. Collected more than 300 feet offshore at depths of nearly 35 feet, the water undergoes a treatment process inspired by salt pans, which enhances the saline density to nearly twice that of the Dead Sea.
The pools, each a different temperature and salinity, help and eliminate excess fluid and boost endorphins, among other benefits. Forte Village
The result of this process: 'sea oil'–a therapeutic, magnesium-rich solution with exceptional detoxifying and anti-inflammatory benefits. The circuit, which ranges from pools of pure sea oil to pure seawater, also helps eliminate excess fluid, boost endorphin production, treat psoriasis and other skin conditions, and aid in muscle and joint recovery.
Exclusive treatments designed to complement the circuit include cryotherapy with sea oil and aloe, a sea mud shaping treatment, and a thalasso massage, conducted in the circuit's third pool, whose buoyancy optimizes the experience. For an ultra-exclusive wellness extravaganza, there's also private spa experience, which accommodates up to ten people in a 3,200-square-foot sanctuary complete with a four-pool thalasso circuit, as well as a hammam, solarium, and dedicated treatment room for two.
Fully revamped in 2022, the spa also offers bespoke wellness programs spanning 4-7 days (new biohacking wellness programs among them), along with holistic and ayurvedic treatments. Unmatched Sports & Recreation Facilities
Active travelers keen to work up a sweat, take note: likely no other resort on the planet rivals Forte Village in terms of both sports and recreational programming and facilities. Sports academies this summer include the Real Madrid Fundación Clinic (staffed with UEFA-licensed coaches), a basketball academy helmed by former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, Ettore Messina; padel and pickleball academies, and a new fencing academy led by six-time Olympic gold medalist, Valentina Vezzali. Tennis fans can work on their serve on one of the resort's 13 clay courts with coaching from Wimbledon champ Pat Cash.
Forte Village's world-class sports and recreation facilities are located steps from the sea. Forte Village
Climbing, swimming, sailing, and scuba diving academies number among the other options, as do chess, go-karting, biking (both mountain and road), and even DJing. Booking at least a day or two in advance is recommended. Fitness enthusiasts can also burn off indulgent pasta dinners with a full schedule of light Pilates, Zumba, and AquaGym classes daily.
The Baia delle Palme pool zone features seven water slides and interactive water games. Forte Village
Few warm-weather escapes are complete without plenty of pool time–and the resort's Baia delle Palme pool, an expansive aquatic zone, raises the bar for splish-splashy fun in the sun. At its heart lies a spectacular aquapark designed especially for kids, featuring seven water slides, a paddling area with interactive water games, and a pirate ship complete with water cannons.
Beyond the myriad sports academies, other activities for children include art, science, and magic workshops, as well as a Barbie Experience, where kids can paint, make jewelry, explore their creativity inside a bona fide pink Barbie House.
Newly unveiled this year, the Forte Village Nature Park–an ambitious environmental enhancement project–provides yet another reason to visit. Designed for visitors of all ages and spread over 17 acres, the park offers a guided immersion in various animal and plant species, as well as nature trails and other recreational amenities. Besides stables housing Sardinian donkeys, Shetland ponies, and native Giara horses, there's a 20,000-square-foot Great Aviary, one of the park's standout attractions.
The new nature park features a range of animals, as well as nature trails and a zipline. Forte Village
Nearly 35 feet high, the birdlife wonderland–complete with vegetation including trees and shrubs, as well as a pond and stream–counts scarlett ibis, crowned cranes, turacos, black swans, and peacocks among its residents. The park also allows visitors to explore the plant world–like the synergistic garden, where they'll learn about aromatic and medicinal herbs, and sustainable agriculture that respects biodiversity.
Chilean flamingos number among the many feathered residents of the nature park. Forte Village
Beyond flora and fauna, there are nature trails prime for surveying the picturesque landscape, and a zip line that's scheduled to open at the end of August 2025. The park currently offers twice-weekly guided tours for guests, and private tours that can be booked anytime during the week. Additional phases of the project will debut next season.
Forte Village is open through the end of October, and reopens in April. For more information and to book, visit the website.