Summer in Sardinia, from a villa above the sea

Sardinian summers are about the colour of the water. Around the north east coast it turns from pale green to deep blue over granite and white sand, and islands such as Tavolara, Caprera and the La Maddalena archipelago make every boat trip worthwhile. The mistral, the island's north west wind, keeps many afternoons fresher than on the mainland.

The villas below sit close to that water. At Capo Coda Cavallo, a 1976 house by the architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni stands 50 m from a white sand cove, with no neighbours. Near Porto Cervo, a villa above Liscia di Vacca looks across to Caprera, and at Marina di Portisco another has its own private dock. In the south, at Torre delle Stelle, a house with 10 bedrooms opens onto a golden beach, with steps to the sand.

At a glance

• 17 private villas
• From 2 to 10 bedrooms
• Up to 26 guests in one villa
• 17 with a private pool
• 11 with sea views
• 7 with a cook or staff
• Availability and price on request, reply within one working day