Cosima overlooks the courtyard

nconspicuously nestling beneath craggy hilltops and immersed in a dense garden, Casa Cosima is an ideal place to get away from it all and appreciate the tranquil Sardinian countryside.

The owner of Casa Cosima has a passion for the traditions of regional architecture, and has endeavoured to restore these beautiful shepherds’ cabins using locally-sourced stone and juniper. Adding to the rustic flavour of these properties, rock protrudes from the floor and walls, as if to remind guests that nature still governs this region of Sardinia.

The veranda of Casa Cosima

Outdoors: Casa Cosima, and its detached neighbour Casa Anania, are enclosed within 1500m2 of grounds which are accessed via a dirt track. The central focus of these grounds is a shared, sunny courtyard with sun loungers. Trees border this area, offering shade to a small picnic area, and on the other side of the garden’s stone wall lie the owner’s vineyard and vegetable crops.

As the casa is built on a hillside, it enjoys tremendous views of the surrounding countryside. The peaks of the hills tower over one side of the garden, and from the higher reaches of these slopes, you can enjoy a sea view.

A seam of rock joins the casa

Throughout the gardens, nature takes precedence over manmade structures. Blankets of flowers and a rich variety of Mediterranean plants make the grounds seem even larger than they are, by being dense enough to hide one section from the next. Casa Cosima has its own private shower and barbecue in its section of the garden.

Indoors: Set on the main road that runs parallel to the sea – the Lungomare - Casa Cosima’s grounds are fully enclosed and are all one level, making it great for children to run about in. The pretty garden features several trees and Mediterranean plants like pines, junipers, dwarf palms, rosemary, myrtle, bay trees and colourful geraniums. There is a large brick built barbecue and two smart shower cubicles with hot running water. There are three main terraces areas to enjoy: a large patio covered by a huge canopy and featuring a large table for outdoor dining, a front veranda where you can sit and sip an aperitif and a large first-floor terrace ideal for sunbathing. From here you get a glimpse of the sea through the tops of the pine trees that are a prevalent characteristic of Cala Liberotto, providing shade and privacy.

Stonework on dining room walls

Fusion of casa and rock

Casa Cosima consists of kitchen, shower room, double bedroom and single bedroom, while a fourth guest can sleep on the single sofa-bed in the living area.

Sa Curcurica is ideal for kids

Surrounding area: Casa Anania is situated near the hamlet of Sos Alinos, which has several useful shops and is on the way to the series of beaches and tourist facilities at Cala Liberotto. Some of these beaches are sandy and feature bars and sun loungers, while others are rocky coves with glittering clear waters. An excellent option for children is Sa Curcurica beach which has shallow warm waters.

A church in Orosei

The historic town of Orosei is a 10km drive from the Casa, and in addition to restaurants on little piazzas, it has a network of winding alleys that can be explored.

This area of Sardinia remains very wild, and intrepid holidaymakers who prefer to do their exploring in the countryside will want to roam the Barbagia and Gennargentu regions to the south. Ramblers on the south side of the Gulf of Orosei will be rewarded by reaching untouched sections of the Sardinian coastline, which are only accessible by boat or through one of the tunnels that traverse the mountains.

Sparkling beaches at Cala Liberotto

Italian Islands Insight: Casa Cosima is suitable for a family who prize peace and nature, but who also want to be near a high standard of beaches and many tourist facilities. The enclosed grounds provide a magical space for children to run freely in and the house will also appeal to those who appreciate its rendition of traditional architecture.

A shaded picnic area

In addition to his passion for rural buildings, the owner (who lives nearby in Orosei) is also a mine of information about local culture and cuisine. When introducing guests to the casa and its facilities in the grounds, he is always more than happy to recommend the finest places to eat and where to sample the best Sardinian wines.

Although they share a luscious garden and courtyard, Casa Cosima and Casa Anania are entirely independent, each retaining its own outdoor area with barbecue and external shower. However, since they are only 16m apart, renting Casa Cosima at the same time as Casa Anania is a great option for groups of up to eight, thus making the entire garden their own private paradise. Car hire is essential, and there is much to discover in this peaceful yet untamed corner of Sardinia.