The small seven-room boutique hotel Albero Capovolto is in northern Sardinia, not far from Olbia’s international airport. In our rental car, we took the road toward Porto Rotondo, past large private villas whose gates are framed with pink flowers, and reached the hotel after a drive of barely 20 minutes. It is a joy to arrive at this true hidden gem.
The house
Some ten years ago, Alessandro opened his parents’ former vacation home as a boutique hotel. And what a hotel it is! You glide through the gate up to the stone villa, walk through the living room onto the veranda and find yourself in a Garden of Eden. The host is usually there to greet you personally. Then you sink into one of the armchairs, and you are in perfect vacation mode.
Alessandro spent his summer vacations here with his parents and four brothers. “It’s a part of me,” he says. “That’s why I want guests to love it as much as I do.” And indeed, he pays great attention to detail.
The garden is an oasis, an explosion of colors and scents that changes with every season. Among olive trees, vines, fruit trees, herbs and native plants lies a vegetable garden, where vegetables and herbs are grown for the hotel’s kitchen. And the infinity pool at the far end of the garden makes you feel as if you could swim right into the Sardinian countryside.
We also discovered a small boutique in a green glasshouse, where you can buy all kinds of treasures.
But what makes Albero Capovolto is its atmosphere. You feel at home in no time, and you get all the insider tips you need to make the most of Sardinia and your vacation.
The Rooms
There are seven rooms in total: two lovely, spacious suites and two superior rooms upstairs and three rooms on the lower floor. These were once the children’s rooms, which you can tell because Alessandro has covered each air conditioner with a portrait of one of his brothers. All the rooms open directly onto the garden, which makes them very bright, and Alessandro furnished them himself with antiques and one-of-a-kind pieces from the region. The suites and superior rooms stand out for their size, while the standard rooms downstairs are cozy nests. (They are also cheaper, and at Albero Capovolto you spend most of your time around the house, in the living room and above all in the garden.)
We also loved that the bed linens are made by local artisans.
Food
Breakfast is lavish: five stars for presentation and cooking! Here, too, Alessandro wants to introduce his guests to Sardinian cuisine. As far as possible, nothing is imported, and he even offers tours to meet his producers. On most evenings, Albero Capovolto also serves a candlelit dinner. You see the menu in the morning and decide whether to join, and we highly recommend it. What’s on the menu? Slow food: little meat, lots of fish and plenty of seasonal vegetables, all served Pretty Hotels style.
Alessandro created the wine list with a Sardinian sommelier, and its small family-run wineries offer yet another way into the island’s culture. That earns extra points.
The Surroundings
Some of Sardinia’s most beautiful bays are just 15 minutes away. Should you also drive up to mingle with the jet set in Porto Cervo? Better not. Choose one of the small restaurants on the beautifully made map, packed with insider tips, that Alessandro hands you on arrival. If you want to scout the beaches in advance, the nearest are Spiaggia di Ira and Spiaggia della Marinella.
Ideal for
A week of first-class vacation in Sardinia with an extra personal touch. With its personal dinners and recommendations, few places on the island feel more luxurious.
Children
Ages 12 and up.
Prices
Doubles around 300 euros per night, including breakfast.
Booking & Contact
Albero Capovolto
Strada Su Donnigheddu, 13
07020 Golfo Aranci / Olbia
Italy
Photos: © Hannes Kläger
