Hotel Rocce Sarde, San Pantaleo, Italy

The Rocce Sarde is a beautiful luxury hotel in Sardinia. It occupies a stunning location near the charming village of San Pantaleo, minutes from the Costa Smerelda. Set high above the sea, the road winds up from San Pantaleo, with its hydrangeas and reputation for drawing artists, and winds up the drive, which is edged in flowers, lavender and juniper bushes and beautifully landscaped.

This luxury hotel rises up out of the rocky landscape with its pink-tinged rocks like a secluded convent. Indeed the main building once was a convent and has an air of calm throughout, perched as it is in its own grounds overlooking the gulf of Cugnana on the north coast of Sardinia.

The facilities

The service at the Rocce Sarde is very friendly and personal despite the size. The large restaurant feels very much like a hotel restaurant but the cuisine is good and service attentive while a wide panoramic window-wall opens it all up to the most magnificent views of the Gulf of Cugnana and the sparkling ocean below. The garden is lovely and dining out on the garden tables in the evening with scents of rosemary, lavender and juniper from the bushes is really atmospheric.

The grounds tumble in layered descents down to the pool – carved out of the rocks and very popular with families – and the poolside bar. Along the way there is an area where, once a week, a traditional Sardinian evening is held out in the open air, with spit-roasted meat and performers in traditional costumes demonstrating local dances. From reception there is a shuttle that runs down to the little port from where the luxury hotel’s boat whisks guests off to pristine beaches of the Costa Smerelda, whole day trips with lunch served on the boat.

The rooms

All of the 80 roomsat the Rocce Sarde feature all mod cons and are decorated with a nod to typical Sardinian style, albeit in a homogenous way. This is a great luxury hotel, very popular with families (and indeed all other age groups). It is not cutting-edge or modern but boasts good facilities and a stunning setting.