Made up of two five-star hotels—Hotel Erica and Hotel La Licciola—and set on almost 70 acres of verdant land, Resort Valle dell’Erica provides a private pocket of Sardinia to enjoy the island from. Overlooking the natural reserve of the Straits of Bonifacio and the national park of the archipelago of La Maddalena, with over 4,590 feet of coastline featuring a string of white sand beaches and bays, the resort showcases the island’s natural beauty at its most enticing. We take a look at the best ways to experience Sardinia’s unique culture, cuisine and environment while staying at this luxury retreat.
Taste the Local Cuisine
Fresh local ingredients from both land and sea are used in the dishes at Resort Valle dell’Erica’s seven restaurants. Owing to its produce and diverse Mediterranean influence, the island is celebrated for its distinct culinary identity. Try some of the local specialties incorporating octopus, lobster, suckling pig and fregola pasta at the resort’s signature restaurant Nautilus, which overlooks the oceanfront pool, on the panoramic terrace of Les Bouches restaurant, or with your feet in the sand at Li Zini beachfront restaurant.
Find Rejuvenation at the Spa
With the resort’s position on this scenic stretch of coast, its many outdoor pools come with far-reaching coastal views, taking in the cliffs, beaches and verdant greenery. Covering more than 17,200 sq ft, the resort’s Thalasso Centre & SPA features four outdoor pools that lie amid giant granite rocks and gardens, along with 15 chalets for spa therapies, a Turkish bath, sauna, relaxation area and cardiofitness gym. Try Thalassotherapy treatments, which harness the benefits found in the marine environment, and indulge in treatments using essential oils made from Sardinian aromatic plants and herbs. Sardinian signature treatments here include the hydromassage bath with sea salt and BIO myrtle gel, and the anti-aging Elixir of Youth facial treatment with Cannonau grapes.
Sail along the Coast
The possibilities for sailing trips are abundant here. You can set sail in the period wooden boat Pulcinella to navigate the islands of La Maddalena Archipelago and the north coast of Gallura with a seafood lunch served on board, or you can choose to step aboard the Latin sailboat Leonidas to sail La Maddalena Archipelago Marine Park and the Strait of Bonifacio.
Explore the Island
Delve deeper into the culture here by signing up for a cultural tour with Ethno Tours. These half-day trips take in the archaeological, historical, ethnographic and cultural points of interest in Gallura (this region in the northeast). The resort also offers La Prisgiona Archeo tours, which give insight into the ancient civilisation that made its mark here. Another source of pride on the island is then the local wine – by joining the wine sensation tour, you can uncover Northern Sardinia’s best wineries while visiting the vineyards.
A Sustainable Stay
Resort Valle dell’Erica has impressive green credentials. In fact, Delphina hotels & resorts is the first Italian hotel group to use entirely green and renewable energy across its complete portfolio and as a result has been recognised with the P.E.A. Travel award (People. Environment. Achievement) at the P.E.A. Awards honoring people and companies around the world for their sustainability and environmentally conscious initiatives.
To find out more about the resort, go over to HOTELVALLEDELLERICA.COM.
Images courtesy of Delphina hotels & resorts
Source: Lauren Hill, Elite Traveler
