Stazzo Lu Ciaccaru

near Olbia, Sardinia, Italy
Book from GBP Book from £130 per night

Stazzo Lu Ciaccaru

near Olbia, Sardinia, Italy

A small hotel, once a farm, wrapped in beautiful countryside with amazing views, delicious Sardinian food, plus 2 private villas

A small hotel, once a farm, wrapped in beautiful countryside with amazing views, delicious Sardinian food, plus 2 private villas

This is a small country estate, a peaceful world of sweeping lawns, old stone barns, ancient olive trees and views over untouched countryside. It sits in 32 hectares of land, 10km back from the coast, and when you wash up at the end of the track you’ll have slipped back in time. Not that you should expect dusty old interiors locked away behind heavy wooden doors. On the contrary, an attractive rustic style runs throughout – colour-washed walls, terracotta-brick floors, beamed ceilings. In short, old and new mix harmoniously together, making the perfect retreat after a hard day on the beach.

Potter about and find a cool main pool, a tasty restaurant and lovely staff. Rooms are scattered about: big Suites with shaded terraces in the old stables; Junior Suites at the top of the hill with their own swimming pool; Private Pool Suites with long views over the hills; a couple of self-catering villas for 6-7 in old stone barns, one with a private pool - ideal for families. All of which gives you reason to linger, but you’re nicely positioned to explore the coast from Olbia to Santa Teresa, so explore by day, then return for a spectacular meal: fresh seafood, homemade pasta, delicious local meat.

Highs

  • The estate, a beautiful country retreat, yet close to the coast
  • The Suites, big and airy with shaded terraces and good bathrooms; some come with private pools too
  • The main pool, a lovely spot to spend a day doing nothing at all, except take in stunning views and order a cocktail
  • The restaurant and its romantic terrace for superb food served by friendly staff
  • Gorgeous beaches and aquamarine seas nearby: Santa Teresa, the Maddalena Archipelago and Costa Smeralda all await

Lows

  • It’s more agriturismo than slick hotel, some might find the rustic style a little simple
  • If you want to eat out and explore the area, you’ll need a car
  • Prices are high in mid/high season, but so are most places on the Costa Smeralda
  • Villa guests will need to pay a refundable security deposit on arrival, and will have a cleaning charge added to their final bill
  • We have yet to see the latest Suites in person, but they look gorgeous

Best time to go

May and June are great months to visit - the sun is hot and staff are fresh. It’s easy to get a table in a restaurant or a sunbed on the beach, and you’ll have the place to yourself, so getting about isn’t a hassle. Mid-July through August can get very busy and temperatures can hit 40C. September is good, the water is warm, but some restaurants close by the middle of the month. The hotel is open mid-April to mid-October.

Our top tips

  • We loved the beach at Bája Sardinia (about 20km northeast). You can hire sunbeds and parasols, and the village stands directly behind with lots of cafés and restaurants
  • Car ferries run between northern Sardinia and southern Corsica (they are separated by 14km of flat blue water), so it’s extremely easy to see 2 islands in 1 holiday
  • Great for...

    Family
    Foodie
    Romantic
    • Boutique Resort
    • 17 rooms + 2 villas for 6-7
    • Restaurant and bar (open daily)
    • All ages welcome
    • Open all year
    • Outdoor Pool
    • Spa Treatments
    • Beach Nearby
    • Pet Friendly
    • Disabled Access
    • Car essential
    • Parking
    • Restaurants Nearby
    • WiFi
    • Air Conditioning
    • Guest Lounge
    • Terrace
    • Garden
    • Gym
    • Daily Maid Service
    • Towels & Bedlinen
    Room:

    Rooms

    We loved the airy Suites, which have pretty terraces with fabulous views, and sleep 2-4 with a sofabed. The smaller Classic Rooms have sofas at the end of their beds, then doors onto a patio. Two people would be very happy in these, and you’ll save a few euros into the bargain.

    The Junior Suites, each with one bed and a sofa, are located in a renovated old farm building, up a small hill, away from the main house. There’s a smaller, second swimming pool up here too, and wonderful views. The plush Suites with Private Pool come with gorgeous views and can sleep 2-4 in a queensize bed and two sofabeds or two double bedrooms. For families, there's a lovely Family Suite with two bedrooms (one double and one twin).

    If you want to self-cater, there are 2 villas, set in beautifully renovated old stone farm buildings. Each sleeps 6-7, making them a perfect option for families. They have proper kitchens and separate dining rooms, sitting rooms with open fires, shuttered windows and stone walls. Hay barn Lo Stazzo, with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, is bigger with a private swimming pool and a terrace for alfresco dinners. Il Pagliaio, by the main pool, has 2 double bedrooms, 1 twin bedroom and 2 bathrooms.

    Features include:

    • Fan
    • Hairdryer
    • In-room treatments available
    • Minibar
    • Safe box
    • WiFi

    Eating

    Breakfast in the courtyard is excellent, with a buffet of local cheeses, charcuterie, fresh fruit, homemade cakes and bread, and scrambled eggs. Lunches are light, and are available on request. Choose from a selection of salads, sandwiches or pasta. For your sundowner beverages, head to the raised cocktail cabana with its thatched roof, and ask Aldo, who trained in Brazil, to make you his signature Caipirinha.

    Dinner (pre-booking recommended) is eaten inside at clothed tables or under the stars on the candle-lit terrace. The food is all local: antipasti of buffalo mozzarella, tuna tartare, then lobster linguine, grilled sword fish with aubergine or rack of lamb. Local Sardinian wine is impressive; we can vouch for the Gallura Vermentino. On Sunday’s there’s a Sardinian Tasting Menu featuring local specialities, such as ricotta mousse, ravioli with sage butter and suckling pig.

    If you want to eat out, you’ll find good restaurants a drive away (book ahead in high season). Try Agriturismo La Kustera. It’s up in the hills (1.5km away) and serves lots of small, tasty dishes made with homegrown produce.

    Guests staying in the self-catering villas can pay a supplement for breakfast, and are of course welcome in the restaurant for dinner. The villas are well-equipped for rustling up meals, with full kitchens (hobs, ovens, barbecues). Arzachena has grocery shops, full of local produce (3.4km).

    Features include:

    • Bar
    • Coffee maker
    • Kids' meals
    • Lunch by arrangement
    • Restaurant
    • Room service
    • Vegetarian options
    Eating:
    Activity:

    Activities

    • Hang out at the estate: snooze on sunbeds by the pools, and enjoy peaceful walks
    • Have a treatment in the tranquil massage gazebo or work out in the hotel's fitness hut with mountain views
    • Head to the Costa Smeralda for its fabulous beaches, cute towns and marinas stuffed with expensive boats. Don’t miss the beach at Bája Sardinia
    • Explore the Maddalena Archipelago, a group of tiny islands above Palau. You can swim from deserted beaches and see Garibaldi’s house on Isola Caprera
    • Visit the long, sandy beach at Santa Teresa, and gaze over the water to Corsica. Ferries will zip you across to explore Bonifacio
    • Take a luxurious private boat trip, with lunch, drinks and lots of deep water swimming included
    • Head into the hills above the coast at San Pantaleo for the Thursday market
    • See some fascinating archaeological sites close by: the Giant’s Tomb at Li Lolghi, the Necropolis at Li Muri and La Prisgiona
    • In the first week of September, head 8km south to Sant’Antonio for the feast days of 3 saints; their statues are paraded through streets on smartly dressed oxen

    Activities on site or nearby include:

    • Boat trips
    • Fishing
    • Golf
    • Hiking
    • Historical sites
    • Horse riding
    • Private guided tours
    • Sailing
    • Shopping / markets
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Windsurfing
    • Wine tasting
    • Yoga

    Kids

    Children are welcome and will love the pools and freedom of the spacious grounds.

    Best for:

    All ages

    Family friendly accommodation:

    The Family Suite has a second bedroom with two single beds for children. Junior Suites have space for a rollaway bed or baby cot. The larger Suites and Pool Suites sleep 2 children on sofabeds or in a second bedroom and have space for a baby cot, too. Junior Suites 14 & 15 look straight onto the second, more secluded pool, making them a good option for families. For longer stays, the self-catering villas offer more room - both sleep 6-7 and have space for a rollaway bed and baby cot. Lo Stazzo has its own pool, too.

    Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

    Babysitting:

    On request

    Children's meals:

    Kid-friendly meals can be whipped up on request

    Families Should Know:

    The swimming pools are not securely fenced and children will require supervision

    Distances:

    • Airport: 30 minutes (Olbia)
    Kid Friendly:

    Location

    Stazzo Lu Ciaccura is a rural hotel, 3.4km from the small town of Arzachena in the northeast of Sardinia. It's half an hour from Olbia, 2 hours from Alghero and 3.5 hours from Cagliari.

    By Air:
    Fly into Olbia from April to late September (23km), or Alghero and Cagliari all year round (though the hotel is closed mid-October to mid-April).

    From the Airport
    The hotel does not offer transfers and you'll need a car while you're here, so best to hire one. Click here to see our recommendations. You can park for free at the hotel.

    By Ferry:
    There are sailings from mainland Italy (Genoa, Livorno, Piombino) and from Corsica to northern Sardinia (Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Santa Teresa Gallura); and from further afield (including Marseille, Barcelona) to other Sardinian ports.

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

    Airports:

    • Olbia 23.0 km OLB
    • Olbia 130.0 km AHO

    Other:

    • Beach 10.0 km
    • Shops 3.4 km
    • Restaurant 1.5 km

    Our guests' ratings...

    Based on 4 independent reviews from i-escape guests

    10/10
    Room
    10/10
    Food
    10/10
    Service
    10/10
    Value
    10/10
    Overall

    {{ review.rating }}/10, ,

    Rates for Stazzo Lu Ciaccaru

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