All about the Gabbiano Azzuro Hotel & Suites and Sardinia

All about the Gabbiano Azzuro Hotel & Suites and Sardinia

Monday 19 June 2023

 

 

Today Sardinia is a well-known and coveted tourist destination, but this was not always the case; in fact, the island has only for the past few decades become a major player in the trend.

The picture in southern Sardinia was completely different; tourism had not yet come to its seashores. From only the 1960s the situation changed and investors, especially foreigners, decided to venture into the tourism sector on the island that lies in the center of the Mediterranean. Accomplice also to the challenge launched by Karim Aga Khan who, in 1962, founded – along with a number of partners, Prince Sadruddin, lawyer André Ardoin, John Duncan Miller, the heirs of Patrick Guinnes, Count Renè Podbielski and Giuseppe Mentasti – the Costa Smeralda consortium, which would later be called upon to manage all the facilities in the area, tourism also began to take its first steps in the south of the Island. The key figure in this movement that we may call revolutionary (at least as far asthe northern end of the Island is concerned) is Prince Karim Aga Khan Shah Karīm al-Husaynī

Where to Stay 

 

You should definitely stay at the Gabbino Azzuro hotel & suites. The Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites is a family-run hotel, owned by the Datome Family for more than 50 years.  Sergio Datome, with the precious help and support of his wife Antonella, his brother Marco and his son Tullio, is the General Manager for more than 45 years. A united family group that founded their business on a passion for hospitality. With great dedication they have overcome the challenges of the past and with energy and new continuous inspirations they face those of the future.

All rooms that are bookable have a private balcony overlooking the sea or the village of Golfo Aranci. Now, I stayed at the pool suite which is a 40 sqm open space bedroom furnished with a sofa-bed and a lush bathtub. This Suite's top-notch feature is the wide terrace of 50 sqm on top of the Suite, accessible by outdoor stairs, that boasts a private 23 sqm pool with whirlpool system. This suite is absolutely gorgeous and the view incredible. If you are a sunrise and sunset person you will be served. I enjoyed waking up in the morning to watch the sunrise and journaling at the balcony not to mention using the private pool and bathtub to relax. The suite has all the amenities to provide you a relaxing stay. 

Food 

 

We cannot talk about Sardinian cuisine without mentioning the famous Pane Carasau It’s one of the most typical types of bread of the Sardinian lands, a set of water, durum wheat, semolina flour, salt and yeast with a very thin and very crunchy shape deriving from double cooking inside the wood-fired ovens. Pane Carasau can be eaten dry or tasted in various preparations such as the “Pane salìtu chin bagna” (a layered realization of the carasau bread) 

You should try the Culurgiones. They are a ravioli-shaped pasta filled with potatoes, pecorino cheese and mint. 

There is a list of delicious Sardinian food to try but of course I had to get some good old carbonara and tiramisu during my stay which I had at the Blu Restaurant awarded by the Italian Le Guide de L'Espresso, this magical and charming location, only three meters above the Sardinian sea, is a prelude to an unforgettable Italian gourmet experience.

Activities 

I would highly recommend sailing, you get to explore different beautiful islands. I went sailing with Route Mater Bv We explored the Maddalena Archipelago, Stopped at the islands of Spargi, Budelli, and Santa Maria. My highlight was visiting the Spiaggia Rosa

Hiking is also a very good option Sella del Diavolo is one of the shortest and most accessible hikes in Sardinia. It trails behind Calamosca beach and goes to one of the famous natural landmarks, Sella del Diavolo. It takes more than two hours to complete.

The Sa Spendula is one of the most beautiful hikes in Sardinia that will lead you to the gorgeous waterfalls of Sa Spendula. Its trail starts from the parking lot of Campanas de Sisinni Conti and follows through the road.

You have other activities such as wine touring. The history of wine in Sardinia dates back to ancient times, during the Iron Age between 900 and 750 b.C., as this is the land of the first red wine makers in the whole Mediterranean Sea, who produced and drank a distant relative of today's sardinian Cannonau red wine. 

You can also watch dolphins A community of bottlenose dolphins has happily settled in the waters of Golfo Aranci. The reason is the fish farming plant near Figarolo Island, 2,5 km from the Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel & Suites, where numerous dolphin families feed around the farming plant.

I hope this article will inspire you to visit this magical place. 

References:

Locci, E. (2022). Birth of tourism in southern Sardinia Santa Margherita di Pula. European Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, [online] 10(3), pp.13–22. doi:https://doi.org/10.37745/ejhtr.2013/vol10n31322.

Anon, (2020). The regional cuisine: the variety of the Sardinian traditions. [online] Available at: https://true-italian.com/2020/11/26/the-regional-cuisine-the-variety-of-the-sardinian-traditions/ [Accessed 19 Jun. 2023].

PerfectSardinia. (n.d.). Nature Walk in Sardinia: the best hikes in Sardinia • PerfectSardinia. [online] Available at: https://www.perfectsardinia.com/nature-walk-sardinia/ [Accessed 19 Jun. 2023].

Hotel - Gabbiano Azzuro Hotel & Suites

Photographer - Angelika Korobochek

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