Grand Hotel Ma&Ma Resort ★★★★★ - Adults Only

Sardinia is known as ‘the other continent’, drifting between Africa and Europe, and its idyllic beaches certainly feel more like they belong to the Caribbean than Europe. Meanwhile, the proud residents avoid conforming to Italian stereotypes, ardently maintaining their sardità, integrity of the Sardinian way of life. Sometimes referred to as the ‘unconquered island’, throughout history, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Spanish, Italians, French… and tourists, have all tried to settle or invade, yet it remains authentically Sardinian.

Also known as the ‘Island of Silence’, even in the height of summer you can always find seclusion and serenity on one of the vast quantity of beaches with their soft, white sand and clear, turquoise waters. Alternatively, there are the ancient and dramatic, yet peaceful mountain landscapes. Striking as the mountains may be, Sardinia is possibly most famous for its Costa Smeralda, where enormous super-yachts sit imperiously in harbours, while glamorous people frolic in the emerald-green waters.

A mile out from the coast, however, is the Maddalena archipelago, where mighty granite outcrops plunge into the crystal-clear waters and fragrant herb bushes frame the quiet stretches of beach. It is the ideal sanctuary from which to explore Sardinia, and it is here, nestled on a rocky slope overlooking the twinkling bay, that the Grand Hotel Ma&Ma welcomes its guests.

As classic and elegant on the outside as it is modern and beautifully designed on the inside, the hotel’s exterior is enticing and, once through the door, the lobby is clean, crisp and contemporary. Comfortable sofas and stylish coffee tables, a grand piano beneath a dazzling chandelier, and a simple colour scheme, exude class and sophistication. Upstairs, the rooms and suites offer a 21st-century twist on baroque luxury, and those with terrace or private veranda, also offer a sublime space to kick back and watch the sun go down.

Of course, anywhere you go in Italy you will be treated to some great meals, but here again, the cuisine is slightly different. Rather than pizza, you are more likely to enjoy a suckling pig, the sumptuous speciality of the island. Along with many other Sardinian dishes, the hotel’s ‘Antica Isola’ restaurant has its own variant on this classic, vacuum cooking it for a succulent and healthy alternative, which bursts with flavour.

There’s a range of things to see and do in and around the hotel. Aside from the cultural activities, enjoy diving and snorkelling, water sports, trekking, cycling or horse riding and the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness centre… For when this gets too much, retreat to the hotel spa, complete with mineral-rich Magnapool, a Float Room, Turkish baths, sauna, aromatherapy showers and a wide range of treatments. Meanwhile, the outside pool offers terrific views over the surrounding trees and jagged coastline. In short, there is something for everyone!