Inextricably linked to the past glamour of the Costa Smeralda, the Romazzino relaunched this year under the management of Belmond Hotels. It promises a new era of dolce vita in this rugged landscape of juniper and myrtle which runs down to a crystal-clear, sometimes green, sometimes turquoise, sea. In the northeast of the island, brimming with tiny golden coves washed by diaphanous waters.
Romazzino sits beside the sea and is a twenty-minute drive south of chic Porto Cervo, the main town of the Costa Smeralda, where yachts jostle in the harbour and streets are lined with high-end boutiques and lively restaurants. Once an unspoilt region of wild beauty, with rough granite stazzi (the typical houses of this area) dotting the landscape, it was developed by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV in the early 1960s into a swathe of stylishly designed, luxurious resorts, villas and hotels, which respected the environment and local heritage and became the go-to summer destination for the cognoscenti. Gearing up to become a hotspot next year, Belmond Romazzino will soon be joined by a Cheval Blanc, a Rocco Forte Hotel and a Mandarin Oriental making this the latest destination for luxe-seeking travellers.
Designed in 1965 by Michele Busiri Vici (who came from a family of Italian architects who have been active since the 17th century), the soft, fluid lines of Romazzino are typical of the architect’s iconic Mediterranean style. A style which can also be seen in the lovely Stella Maris Church in Po.