Rooms

This former farmhouse has been reimagined as a villa with four bedrooms sleeping a total of seven people. The largest bedroom is on the garden level of the property; its ensuite bathroom has both shower and tub. In the garden, in a separate cabin shrouded by vegetation, is a second bedroom with a small ensuite shower bathroom. On the terrace level of the house, with access from the kitchen, are a pair of rooms (a double and a bunk room for the kids) sharing a shower bathroom. All three double rooms come with kingsized beds.

The feeling throughout is clean, spacious and comfortable – whitewashed walls and exposed beams adding to the Italian rustic atmosphere – while the large floor-length windows let in plenty of sunlight and a cooling breeze. There’s also air-con for the hottest summer months.

Outside, there’s a large shaded terrace with plenty of additional seating.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Cots available
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The villa is self-catering with a large open-plan kitchen and seating area inside. On arrival you'll find a bottle of wine for booking through i-escape, as well as milk, coffee, sugar, water, organic tomatoes or whatever is in season as an extra treat (as the housekeeper has a vegetable garden). The shaded alfresco dining area has a barbecue. The local village Murta Maria (3km) has a little supermarket that offers good local produce such as meat, ham, wine, cheese, and bread, as well as a fruit and veg grocer and a bakery. There's also a coffee shop just down the road.

Your guest book details plenty of local restaurants. Although fairly small, Porto Istana itself has a number of well-regarded eateries serving up seafood and the catch of the day as well as local specialities such as panadas and malloreddus. There are pizza and burger outlets in Murta Maria, and other recommended options in Porto Taverna.

For a night out, however, Olbia is your best bet. It’s about 10km and there is a direct bus service. The seafront thrives with bars and restaurants serving everything from grilled fish to porceddu (roast pig) and agnello (lamb stews). There are also Argentine, Japanese, Mexican and Mediterranean fusion restaurants. In the nearby village of Porto San Paolo, there’s even the Michelin-starred Il Portolano, serving up sea bass and grilled octopus on its romantic terrace overlooking the bay.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Lots of activities centre around the sea; you can hire kayaks, sailboats (with or without a skipper and lunch on board) and windsurfs. The clear water makes for excellent snorkelling, and the sea is shallow so ideal for young families
  
• Discover the paradisiacal beaches with turquoise waters lapping white sands. Cala Biccheddu, Spiaggia del Pescatore and Sas Enas Appara are all within walking distance; there's also a beach in Porto Istana itself, Lo Spiaggione. To the south, La Cinta, famous for kitesurfing, is about 20 minutes' away; on the north side of the Gulf of Olbia, more strands of white sand await, including Spiaggia Pittulongu
  
• The area around Porto Istana is also popular with hikers. The local flora and fauna is typically Mediterranean, with lots of pine, olive and oleander trees, and the terrain is reasonably accessible for most walkers
  
• Olbia is a great shopping and wandering destination. From its historic centre, you can amble around the old town, exploring its many artisan shops, high-end boutiques and renowned patisseries. Also check out San Simplicio cathedral and the archaeological museum. There's also a good market in San Pantaleo on Thursdays
  
• If you’re in the mood for a day/afternoon trip there’s the cobblestoned town of Alghero with its Cathedral of Santa Maria, the medieval centre of Castelsardo, and Sassari, Sardinia’s second largest city with its famous Ducal Palace

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Canyoning
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kayaking
• Kitesurfing
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Windsurfing

Kids

All ages are welcome. Kids will love exploring the garden, and the proximity to the beach, which is just a ten minute walk away. Baby cots are free of charge.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The fourth bedroom is a bunk room, which has a fun kiddie-friendly design including a cute marine wall mural.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 20 minutes
• Hospital: 10 minutes
• Shops: 6 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Porto Istana Seaview Villa is based just outside Porto Istana, near Olbia, on the north-eastern tip of Sardinia.

By Air:
Sardinia has three airports. The nearest is Olbia, just 12km to the north, which is about a 2.5-hr flight from the UK (several airlines fly direct), but flights are seasonal. Alghero Airport is 140km to the west across the island, and has more flights year-round.

From the Airport:
Car rental is available at the airport, but it’s only a 15 min cab ride and there’s also a direct bus route. Most will want to hire car to explore the local area and coastline.

By Ferry:
You can reach Olbia or Golfo Aranci from mainland Italy (Genoa, Livorno, Piombino, Civitavecchia) or France (Corsica, Marseille).

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.