If you’re after a slice of Italy that feels genuinely removed from the usual Rome–Florence–Venice circuit, an island in Sardinia has a certain quiet drama about it. This limestone and granite island rises sharply out of the sea, with a unique flat summit. It's located within a marine protected area, and its story includes a self-declared royal family, a NATO base and an annual film festival on the sand.
Where is Tavolara, and why does it feel so remote?
Tavolara lies in the Gulf of Olbia, along Sardinia’s north-east coast. Its dark, flat-topped profile dominates the horizon across the stretch of coastline between Golfo Aranci and San Teodoro.
