Use these "Why Sardinia" pages to find out more about the island and why it might be your ideal holiday location, retirement paradise or property investment opportunity. Sardinia's exotic and exclusive reputation explains why it is the location of choice for the more affluent Italians who invest and holiday there. If you are looking for somewhere different - somewhere special - then Sardinia might just be the place for you.

A Mediterranean climate; gorgeous sandy beaches; breathtaking cliffs, caves, mountains, forests; an amazing variety of flora and fauna; a wonderful range of landscapes; and with all this, Sardinia offers an abundance of undeveloped space.

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It's the second biggest island in the Mediterranean, but the Italians still manage to keep Sardinia a well-kept secret. How many people do you know who have visited the island, or could even locate it on a map? A population of only 1.6 million (+ 4 million sheep!) in an area of 24,000 sq.km. 20% bigger than Wales but with half the population.

The regional government imposes careful management over tourist, commercial and property development to prevent Sardinia going the way of many other better known Mediterranean islands. Legislation introduced a few years ago banning new developments within 300m of the sea was amended in 2006 to 2km from the sea. However there is a gradual acceptance of the need to expand tourism and attract  foreign money. Land and property prices (never very cheap in Sardinia) show a steady rise, particularly in the North of the island. There are large nature reserves and tight controls on building regulations. For example, Villa Baratz (top left & in slideshow) stands in 11 acres of its own land and has a floor area of 200 sq.m. -  the largest permitted for an 11 acre plot in that region.

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