Albera Capovolto sits amid the vineyard-covered hills on the north side of Sardinia.
Planes
From within Italy, fly directly to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport; it’s a 12-kilometre drive from the airport to the hotel. Some airlines offer direct flights from the UK, but you may have to make a stopover in Rome. Speak to our Smith24 team to book flights and arrange transfers (€40 a car, each way), or hail a cab at the airport, but be aware that they sometimes charge extra for luggage, so agree the fare before you get in.
Automobiles
The hotel is pretty remote, so you'll need a car to get to the nearby towns, which are roughly a ten-minute drive away. Our Smith24 team can organise a rental for you to pick up at the airport; from there follow signs to National Route 125 in the direction of Palau, then on to Provincial Route 16 towards Golfo Aranci.
Other
Boats and ferries (check out Moby Lines, Grimaldi Lines and Tirrenia) sail between Olbia and mainland Italy, including ports in Genoa, Livorno and north of Rome, and from France.
Worth getting out of bed for
Albero Capovolto’s countryside setting makes it perfect for lovers of a good ramble. The closest beach is white-sand La Marinella (two kilometres from the hotel), although it can be a bit busy; owner Alessandro highly recommends the calmer Cala Sabina, Cala Sassari and Bianca beaches. Hop into your rental car with a picnic and beach towels, or take a boat to little secluded beaches that are only accessible by sea.
Visit the nearby villages of Porto Rotondo, Golfo Aranci and San Pantaleo for a wander around shops and cafés; on Thursdays, San Pantaleo hosts an arts, crafts and food market that’s known as the best on the island. If you fancy a boating excursion, ask Alessandro about a visit to the archipelago of La Madalena, a former NATO base on a string of beautiful islands. You’re also well placed for wine tasting; Sardinia is serious about their grapes, and there’s no dearth of wineries in the area. We especially like Vigne Surrau.
Local restaurants
Venture to the centre of hillside village San Pantaleo for dinner at Giagoni in Piazza; try the lorighittas pasta with seafood stew and pesto, a classic aubergine parmigiana or the fresh-as-can-be catch of the day. Make sure to save a bit of room for the ricotta-and-chocolate cake too. The north side of Sardinia is liberally dotted with agriturismo restaurants, which are homey eateries on the edge of farmland. Try nearby La Sasima, which specialises in traditional grilled meats and home-made pastas. They also offer tastings of wines, cheeses, honey and salami, if you’re not after a full meal.
Local cafés
Fino Beach Club on Cala Sassari will keep you fed and hydrated during your day on the sand. It serves up food throughout the day, alongside refreshingly chilled drinks; all alfresco, of course.