Two old rural stazzo homesteads have been renovated for the Gallicantu Retreat in the Gallura region of Sardinia.
Standing on more than three hectares of Mediterranean scrub, the five rooms and two suites in the old buildings are a short walk from the village of Luogosanto, in the heart of the Gallura. Abandoned for almost half a century, the old 1930s properties belong to Marco Maria Berio and Raffaella Manca who followed every step of the renovations, selecting the materials and designing the furnishings.
Two suites overlooking the almond grove
The term stazzo derives from the Latin statio (station, resting place) and indicates both the farm and the buildings inhabited by the owners or sharecroppers. These two old stazzi have been restored with traditional materials and the main house has five bedrooms, each one different from the next, a living room with a fireplace for cooler evenings, a wellness area with a sauna, a Turkish bath and a small relaxation area. A little further on the Igna and Mendula Suites overlook the almond grove, and each area is designed using natural elements such as iron, stone and ceramics of modern Sardinian craftsmanship.
A swimming pool caved out of rock
The old stable now houses the Gallicantu's kitchen. Breakfast and dinner, only for the Retreat’s guests, are served on a terrace from which you can see the villages of Alta Gallura and Corsica. At the center of the estate is the swimming pool carved out of rock, a relaxing corner where you can forget the pace of the city and relax in the shade cast by ancient trees. Not to be missed is the Grotta, a spectacular wine cellar in which to enjoy cold cuts, hams and cheeses from the nearby stazzi and small local producers.
Olive oil and honey from the estate
The estate is surrounded by hundreds of olive trees, which produce the oil used in the kitchen, as well as almond trees, citrus and cherry trees. More than two hundred myrtle plants produce a delicious liqueur while ten families of bees produce honey for guests to enjoy.
