Sardinia revokes authorization for Tavolara Bay project at Cala Finanza

The Department for the South of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers withdrew the unique authorization (n. 74, dated 6 February 2026) that had approved the Tavolara Bay S.r.l. development on the Cala Finanza promontory. The revocation followed the Loiri Porto San Paolo municipal council’s cancellation of its November 2025 deliberation that had enabled the Villa Joy redevelopment.

Regional authorities, including Vice‑President Giuseppe Meloni and assessor Francesco Spanedda, had repeatedly opposed the project, arguing it violated regional landscape regulations and the special autonomous statute that grants Sardinia decisive competence over territorial planning. Meloni said, “It was never a battle against anyone – it was a battle for respect of the rules and the special statute.”

Mayor Francesco Lai welcomed the decision, stating, “Sardinia is not a land of conquest,” and praised the “leale collaborazione” between State, Region and local bodies. Large demonstrations of citizens, environmental groups and local officials had taken place days earlier, underscoring the island’s opposition to the contested development.