Stazzo Gallura

Stazzo Gallura is a traditional Gallurese farmstead - a stazzo - built entirely of the local pink granite that characterises northeast Sardinia's landscape. The property sits at 400 metres elevation in the Gallura hills, 20 minutes inland from the Costa Smeralda, surrounded by a 30-acre estate of cork oak forest, granite outcrops, and wild Mediterranean maquis. On clear days, the view extends north across the Strait of Bonifacio to the mountains of Corsica. The stazzo tradition represents a distinct architectural culture: thick granite walls with no mortar, low-pitched roofs of hand-split schist, and rooms arranged in a single line to follow the contour of the hillside. This stazzo dates to the early 19th century and has been in continuous use since. The restoration, completed in 2020, added modern amenities without altering the building's footprint or external appearance. Interior walls were insulated behind the granite, underfloor heating was installed in new stone floors, and bathrooms were fitted within former storage rooms. Five bedrooms occupy the main building and a converted granite outbuilding. Each has a private entrance from the covered loggia that runs the length of the stazzo, en-suite bathroom, and views over the cork oak forest. The master suite includes a freestanding tub positioned at the window with the Corsica panorama. A 16-metre pool, its basin lined with the same local granite, sits on a natural terrace among the cork oaks. The pool area includes a wood-fired barbecue, an outdoor shower, and a shaded lounging area where the resident chef serves lunch - typically Gallurese specialities like zuppa gallurese, suckling pig cooked on a spit over juniper wood, and seadas drizzled with local honey. The estate's cork oaks are harvested on the traditional nine-year cycle, and guests can witness the stripping process if they visit during the June-August harvest period. The coast at Liscia Ruja is 20 minutes by car; Porto Cervo is 25 minutes. Olbia airport is 35 minutes.