HOTEL PITRIZZA

Text by Sara Magro

The boundaries between inside and outside space at the Hotel Pitrizza on the Costa Smeralda are blurred as you move from the natural pink granite cloaked in fragrant Mediterranean scrub to the sculptured buildings nestled within the hotel’s gardens. This seamless transition is no accident, and architect Luigi Vietti meticulously adhered to the Aga Khan‘s vision, which aimed «to revive the tradition of a barely-known island community which possesses extraordinary folklore, art, traditions and customs…We want to incorporate everything authentically Sardinian.» These words have a remarkably contemporary ring and yet they were spoken in 1962, when the vast coastal pastures of Gallura in northern Sardinia were transformed into one of the world’s most exclusive holiday destinations. The same principals were to be applied to all the buildings along the stretch of coast between Cala Razza di Giunco and the Poltu Quatu inlet.

Vietti designed the village of Porto Cervo with this philosophy in mind, but took it to new heights at the Pitrizza which overlooks the stunning Liscia di Vacca bay. Here, he camouflaged rooms and villas among the hills that gently slope to the beach, creating a hotel that blends seamlessly into  the landscape. These stone edifices, reminiscent of rural stazzi, are part of the poetic green terrain. Over time, salt, wind, and nature have further melded this architectural sculpture with its  surroundings, making it almost invisible except to those who are staying there or catch sight of it  through the foliage. It is a secluded world, yet it lies just a few kilometers from vibrant Porto Cervo. 

Guests need reference points to navigate this serene environment; the roundabout near the reception maybe, or the most florid branch of bougainvillea. But once you have your bearings, everything is easily accessible. The path from the bedrooms to the private beach—soft and white like flour, shaded by thatched umbrellas—is just a short stroll across a smooth green lawn. The ever-present crystal-clear sea is the undeniable star of the show and always visible: during breakfast and after dinner, from the tennis and padel courts framed by Mediterranean scrub, and from both the private pools of the villas and the communal pool carved into the rock and painted blue by Vietti.

Inside, the ambiance is steeped in Sardinian craftsmanship, evident in the original carved wooden doors, the cross-stitched linens, and the details revealed by shifting light and shadows as the filmy curtains dance in the breeze. It’s not an exaggeration to call in Paradise, and if you close your eyes and imagine a scene of absolute beauty, it may well come close to the vision that is the Pitrizza.

In 2026 the hotel will become Italy’s first Cheval Blanc, thus officially joining the Lvmh group, a brand synonymous with unparalleled luxury. So, as it was when it first opened in 1963, the Pitrizza remains the Costa Smeralda’s most authentic destination.