Romazzino, A Belmond Hotel, Costa Smeralda

Romazzino has no course of its own, but Belmond includes Pevero Golf Club among the experiences it arranges for guests: you send an enquiry and the hotel organises the rest. The course opened in 1972 under Robert Trent Jones and was chosen to host the Italian Open in 1978.

Alongside a round, Belmond offers private lessons with a local pro and use of the putting greens and driving range. The club itself adds a Toptracer range, a Golf Academy with courses for juniors and children, and carts, trolleys and bags for hire; tee times are booked online. For non-golfers, the hotel also suggests the Pevero Health Trail, a walking route over the same hills.

The architecture is pure 1960s Busiri Vici: whitewashed walls, flowing lines and arched windows. The 94 rooms and suites range from 22 to 45 m² and face the garden or the sea. The two signature suites, Romazzino (80 m²) and Smeralda (81 m², with a 180-degree terrace over the bay), and the six pool villas, with three or five bedrooms, include transfers and breakfast, and the villas come with a butler.

The private sandy beach looks out towards the La Maddalena archipelago. There are two pools: a seawater one carved into the rock above the beach, and a freshwater pool aimed at families. Olbia airport is about 31 km away, roughly 40 minutes.

Boat trips head out to the La Maddalena archipelago, stopping at Spargi, Budelli, Caprera and Cala Coticcio. On land, the hotel runs guided rides by road bike, mountain bike or e-bike through Gallura, and visits to the Arzachena Archaeological Park, eight sites spanning 6,000 years of Sardinian history. A programme of complimentary activities, from paddle surfing to mixology classes, is included in the stay.

The main restaurant is La Terrasse, serving Sardinian and Italian dishes by chef Dario Parascandolo with views across the bay; at lunchtime, Éntu e Mari grills by the beach. There are three bars: Ginepro, open until 1am, the pool bar and the beach kiosk.

The Rosemary Spa offers massages, facials and body rituals drawn from the Sardinian landscape. Outdoors there is a Technogym gym and a yoga and pilates studio, plus tennis and padel courts with coaching from LUX Tennis. The Kids' Club looks after children aged 3 to 12 with multilingual staff, and babysitting is available on request.

• A villa called Pevero: the five three-bedroom villas are named after Costa Smeralda landmarks, Marinella, Capriccioli, Principe, Caprera and, yes, Pevero.
• The founder's words: the hotel still quotes the Aga Khan IV's description of the coast, with green and grey mountains that "tumble into the sea" and flowers that perfume the air.
• Longevity: the hotel points out that Sardinia is one of the world's five original Blue Zones, where people live measurably longer.
• Small guests, small robes: children find mini bathrobes, slippers and bottle warmers waiting in the room.