On the northeastern edge of Sardinia, along the coast known as the Costa Smeralda, Romazzino is what Belmond calls Sardinia's original beach hotel. It rests on a green outcrop above an emerald bay, with one of the island's loveliest white-sand beaches, Spiaggia del Romazzino, at its feet. The whitewashed, red-tiled, gently curving buildings are the work of architect Michele Busiri Vici, built in the 1960s, lending the resort an enduring retro-chic elegance. Life here follows the unhurried Sardinian rhythm, la vita sarda: wake to waves on the rocks, and let afternoons dissolve among the gardens and terraces. There are just 100 accommodations in all, 78 rooms, 16 suites, and 6 private villas, each with a terrace, a marble bathroom, and views of either the sea or the gardens. The Romazzino Suite and Smeralda Suite take in 180-degree views of the bay, while the three-bedroom pool villa, Villa Principe, is named for Spiaggia del Principe, the beach beloved of the Aga Khan IV.
The dining unfolds along the shoreline. The main restaurant, La Terrasse, serves refined modern Sardinian and Italian cooking on a terrace above the moonlit bay; closer to the water, Éntu e Mari brings freshly grilled seafood to within a few steps of the waves. An aperitivo belongs at the elegant Bar Ginepro, a lazy afternoon at the Pool Bar. Two outdoor pools, one freshwater and one seawater, sit ringed by sun loungers, while the private beach comes with full service and secluded cabanas. The Rosemary Spa is a place to slow down, and the outdoor gym, tennis and padel courts, putting green, and sailing and diving turn the whole coast into a playground. Families are especially well looked after, with a Kids' Club, supervised activities for children, and a seasonal cooking school. Romazzino never rushes to perform the glamour of the Costa Smeralda; it simply gives you a quietly beautiful place you will want to return to each evening.