At “La Casitta”, Santa Maria, a small, almost uninhabited island of the La Maddalena archipelago, now a National Park, you can have a dream holiday which beats any of those proposed in places farther afield. Splendid beaches, shallow sea with shining turquoise waters, quaint inlets interspersed with rose-coloured granite rock all recall an isolated atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The silence and peace which reign over this idyllic oasis are broken only by the cry of the cormorants. The two houses of the exclusive “La Casitta” tourist complex offers a total of five double bedrooms each, with bathrooms, plus lounge and verandah in both houses.

A speedboat takes guests from Palau to the private landing jetty, where two fishing boats helmed by expert seamen-fishermen await at the disposition of guests so that they can adventure out on suggestive excursions, dedicated to fishing or exploring in depth the nearby islands. Reached after a few minutes of navigation, are the famous rose-coloured beach of Budelli and many other beautiful breathtaking places in this stretch of water between the islets, called ‘Manto della Madonna’ for its sky-blue colour and for being the most noted and fascinating stretch of sea of all the Costa Smeralda.

La Casitta assures the services of a first-class hotel to whoever stays here. Guests can count on the help of a housemaid, a warden and above all of an excellent cook who prepares excellent Sardinian dishes, served under a portico overlooking the fragrant garden which is surrounded by five hectares of Mediterranean vegetation, of myrtles and junipers, which crown an unforgettable holiday in this corner of paradise.