Green with island envy

Owning your own island has got to be high on the list of most people's ultimate property fantasies - and here's your chance - a beautiful seven acre island off the swanky Emerald Coast in north-east Sardinia has come onto the market...

The Costa Smeralda, or Emerald Coast, is one of the most prestigious holiday spots in the world, attracting the rich and famous with its jewel-green seas and beautiful beaches.

The island of Cappuccini, just off Porto Cervo in Sardinia, could be yours through Savills for a mere £23.5 million. Credit crunch? What credit crunch?

The island, which is over a thousand feet long and four hundred feet wide, boasts four villas, clubhouse, private restaurant and swimming pool and lies in a part of Sardinia that is favoured by the super rich.

The main villa on the island is formed from several large domes, with stunning sea views. It was designed by Sardinia's top Architect and makes use of local materials including granite rocks, fine juniper timbers, terra cotta tiles and hand made ceramics to blend in with the island's natural surroundings and heritage.

There is also a quay with access for several boats and additional staff accommodation.

Cappuccini is all connected up to water and electricity and has beautiful landscaped gardens. You'll have to bring along your own kitchen and waiting staff though. Access to mainland Italy is by yacht and the entire Mediterranean is accessible from this pretty and secluded starting point.

But, despite all of this unbridled luxury and island appeal, Cappuccini has been on the market for two years without a buyer.

Other properties are selling nearby - Russian mining billionaire Alisher Usmanov recently bought a beachfront property close by on the mainland - so the market is moving, but it seems the island charm isn't enough to lure someone to parting with that much cash in this climate.

Picture by ezioman