Constellation Hotels Holding has acquired Villa Certosa, the former Sardinian residence of Silvio Berlusconi. The Luxembourg-based investment arm of Qatar’s Al Thani family completed the transaction. Market sources value the deal between €300 million and €350 million. The operation ranks among the largest hospitality investments in Italy this year. The acquisition also strengthens the group’s strategy of expanding its European portfolio of luxury hospitality assets.
Constellation Hotels Holding manages several high-end properties across Europe. The group bought the Smeralda Holding hotels on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda in 2012. It also owns luxury assets in Paris, London, Rome, and near Charles de Gaulle Airport. This track record leads industry observers to expect a hospitality redevelopment for Villa Certosa. The company has not yet announced a formal plan. However, its investment history points clearly to a luxury hotel conversion strategy. The acquisition fits its broader approach of transforming landmark properties into high-end destinations.
Local reports show that Olbia’s new municipal urban development plan requests an increase in permitted building volume on the estate. The plan targets the renovation of existing buildings and the creation of a five-star hospitality resort. The proposal would introduce a luxury hotel category that Porto Rotondo currently lacks. Local authorities approved the request with revisions. They reduced building density, required the restoration of existing structures, and introduced strict environmental rules to protect the surrounding landscape.
The Villa Certosa project still depends on several administrative approvals. The municipal planning framework has not yet entered into force. Regional authorities continue their review. The municipality must also issue final approval. Despite these steps, the project represents a major opportunity for Sardinia’s luxury tourism sector. It could transform one of Italy’s most iconic private estates into an exclusive international hospitality destination.
