In Memory of Prince Karim Aga Khan
He revolutionized northeastern Sardinia in the 1960s.
The Consorzio Costa Smeralda and Smeralda Holding fondly celebrates the memory of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, and offers Princess Zahra and the entire family its most heartfelt and profound condolences.
With his extraordinary vision and his immense love for the area, Prince Karim Aga Khan, the founder and creator of the Costa Smeralda, built a model of tourism that has gained international fame; a system that has led to social and economic change for the entire community, and that represents an important chapter in the history of Arzachena, Gallura and the entire Sardinian region.
Translated from Italian
At the end of the fifties, when he was little more than twenty, he conceived an enlightened plan. March 14,1962 saw the inauguration of Porto Cervo, which soon became one of the most significant tourist destinations in the world, a role that it continues to maintain to this day.
Created from scratch, with the active collaboration of all the institutions, the community was provided with all the infrastructure required to render the Costa Smeralda a dream destination for travelers from all over the world, while at the same time preserving the beauty of the area.
The Consorzio Costa Smeralda and Smeralda Holding have embraced the commitment to continue, with its constant efforts, to carry forward all that the Aga Khan set in motion.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Municipalities of Arzachena and Olbia for having proclaimed town-wide mourning.
After two days of mourning, the mayor of Olbia, Settimo Nizzi, signed a resolution with the proposal to name the Costa Smeralda airport after Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who passed away on February 4, at the age of 88.
Because of his affection for Sardinia, on March 17, 1962, the Mayor and Town Council made His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV an honorary citizen of Arzachena (Sardinia) and Olbia.
A Journey of Discovery
Prince Karim, The Aga Khan. He was the one who invented the Emerald Coast. We owe him a lot: he created a new way of tourism, respecting the environment and nature, building a paradise where there were only rocks and a wonderful sea.
A brilliant Harvard student, handsome, his grandfather chose him as his successor, preferring him to his father, and he became Imam of the Ismaili Nizari Muslims. In the 1950s begins his most ambitious project, the Emerald Coast. Even today, it is still one of the most exclusive and frequented destinations in the Mediterranean, an earthly paradise that has welcomed the international jet set for more than 60 years. In this strip of coastline, located in the northeastern portion of the island, just over 50 kilometers long, among crystal-clear waters, pristine beaches and large portions of Mediterranean scrubland are found some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. It was not always so, once this territory was one of the least populated in Sardinia, a poor area where life flowed slowly between pastures and nature.
Respecting the Environment and the Future, the two pillars of the project
The two pillars on which the Consortium’s project was based – Respect for nature and places and the Future, toward which they wanted to project that still little-known region. Work began immediately and focused initially on the construction of roads, power grid and water, then on the construction of unique structures, entrusted to the skilful hands of the Committee’s architects. Among the first buildings to be completed was the Hotel Cala di Volpe, designed by Jacques Couelle and still one of the iconic sites of the Costa Smeralda, but also the town of Porto Cervo, the nerve center of the area. Porto Cervo located in an inlet sheltered from the winds, was the brainchild of Luigi Vietti and completed in 1964. Prince Aga Khan’s ambitious urban plan traveled with full sails and saw the construction of many villas and hotels, among which we cannot fail to mention Hotel Cervo and Hotel Ramazzino. In addition, the Olbia airport was also reopened and expanded, which was renamed Olbia-Costa Smeralda for the occasion, and the Alisarda airline was founded. All this was done following precise guidelines provided by the Consortium, which aimed at respecting the environment and maintaining a distinct identity for the place, which did not deviate too much from its Mediterranean nature and Sardinian history, as evidenced by the materials and colors used in the construction of the buildings.
Today, 63 years after its inception, the Costa Smeralda continues to be one of the world’s most exclusive and unique destinations, a place of peace, luxury and tradition.
Italian State Honours
Twice decorated with Italy’s highest state honours, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV has been recognized by the Italian government for his immense contribution to the economic transformation of Sardinia through the development of Costa Smeralda.
The Italian government recognized his contributions by awarding His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV two state decorations:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1977, and
- Knight of Labour, Cavaliere del Lavoro in 1988
These honours captures the continuing appreciation of the Government and peoples of Italy, especially the people from Sardinia for His Highness and the permanent bond they share with him, one of people, place and history.
About Costa Smeralda & YCCS
The 35 mile-long Emerald Coast – or Costa Smeralda in Italian – was an undeveloped stretch of rocky coves when it caught the eye of the Aga Khan, in the late 1950s while sailing his yacht. Since then, the Emerald Coast famous for its landscape heritage, unique white sand beaches, deep coves and pink granite rocks was developed into a premier tourist destination. The impact of its development has become a text book example for economic and social development for many countries and the Italian government lost no time in awarding His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV with two of its highest state honours.
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) was founded on 12th May 1967 by His Highness Prince Aga Khan IV, Andrè Ardoin, Giuseppe Kerry Mentasti and Luigi Vietti as a non-profit making sporting association for fellow sailing enthusiasts and with a view to promoting related activities. The sporting events organized by the Club and the victories won by Members flying the Club’s burgee have helped to establish the YCCS’ position at the forefront of international yachting. Today the YCCS enjoys reciprocal agreements with the Yacht Club di Monaco, the New York Yacht Club, Royal Yacht Squadron and Norddeutscher Regatta Verein. The YCCS is represented by the Board of Directors headed by its President, Princess Zahra Aga Khan and His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV is the President of the Club.
Editor’s note:
While every effort is made in trying to remain true to the original author of all articles we bring to our audiences at Ismailimail, much gets lost in translating the original piece from one language to another. The choice of words, the expression of feelings, the historical and cultural norms, semantics, the author, all these and many other factors get diluted and/or lost, even with the aid and convenience of the all powerful tool like Google translate.
This piece, originally in Italian was highly poetic and exuded profound love in the expression of sentiments that the people of Sardinia feel for His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. Reading it to learn, internalizing it to understand, and translating it to share was an eclectic dance of the heart with the mind.
It is our hope that you were inspired by the impact that His Highness continues to have in Sardinia, Italy and around the world.
Research, Translation, Insight & Perspective by A. Maherali
Be the First to Know – Join Ismailimail
Get breaking news related to the Ismaili Imamat, the world wide Ismaili Muslim community and all their creativity, endeavors and successes.
Inspired? Share the story
Want to inspire? Send your stories to us at Ismailimail@gmail.com
Subscribe and join thousands of other individuals – Subscribe now by clicking this link!
Recommended
Accelerate your awareness and find out what Global Leaders are saying about His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV | Constellation of Honours: Over 300 Accolades from 55 Countries
Discover, Explore & Learn more via:
- In memory of Prince Aga Khan:
He was 88 years old and had revolutionized northeastern Sardinia in the 1960s. - Karim Aga Khan IV and the birth of Costa Smeralda
A journey of discovery of this wonderful land - Death of the Aga Khan, Todde declares regional mourning: He valorized Sardinia without speculating
- Farewell to the Aga Khan, the Costa Smeralda Consortium: From nothing to one of the main tourist centers in the world
- Name Olbia Airport After the Aga Khan»: Mayor Nizzi’s Proposal
- Ismaili Heritage | Today in History
- Vault | Prince Karim Aga Khan
Explore |
||
|---|---|---|
Earlier |
|---|
Ismailimail 