“Gallicantu” is an ancient Sardinian word with deep meaning, a sound that evokes the eternal cycle of nature: dawn. The term “Gallicantu” refers to the first crow of the rooster, and it is the name that Raffaella Manca and Marco Berio chose to give to this project, which is highly inspired by the concept of hospitality.
GALLICANTU STAZZO RETREAT IS A PLACE BORN FROM A DEEP LOVE FOR SARDINIA AND ITS MOST AUTHENTIC SOUL
Located in Luogosanto, a charming village in Alta Gallura known for its twenty-two rural churches and the slow pace of life marked by sheep farming and the silence of the hills, Gallicantu, from “stazzu,” historically known as a typical place of Gallurese peasant life, has now taken on a new life. It has been transformed into a place where the original spirit blends with elegance and uniqueness, a project born out of a love for tradition and guided by a deep environmental sensitivity, in which every detail has been carefully thought out with full respect for the surrounding area.
The stazzi, dating back to the 1930s and abandoned for more than fifty years, have been restored using authentic materials and local techniques. The granite corners of the original structures have been left exposed, while the old tiles have been recovered and reinvented as striking interior lamps. The restoration project, closely supervised by the owners, also saw the creative intervention of architect Jean Claude Lesuisse, who designed the bull's-eye windows, giving the spaces a dreamlike and almost unreal touch. And this is how Gallicantu began a dialogue with the local area that continues today in many ways: “We used local labor and technicians for the construction and restoration. Most of our employees are from Luogosanto, as are our suppliers. We do everything we can to generate business for other activities in the town,” says Marco Berio.
THE STAZZU THAT REVEALS THE SOUL OF SARDINIA IN HARMONY BETWEEN NATURE, THE PAST, AND DESIGN
Behind every meaningful reality there is an intuition, often emotional: "The idea for Gallicantu did not start from a business objective but from an ideal that combined poetry, creativity, and the protection of a place that had been abandoned for more than half a century. We like to think that we didn't design anything, we just painted a picture on canvas that was in our heads," continues Berio. The project has created a space that now houses nine rooms, each with its own identity and atmosphere. Five of these are located in the main stazzo, along with an intimate living room with a fireplace and a wellness area designed to regenerate body and mind.
A short distance away, overlooking an almond grove that once housed a small vineyard for family use, are the two suites of Gallicantu Stazzo Retreat, two rooms that offer a unique stay experience, combining rural memories with contemporary comfort. Organic architecture is the focus, the rooms, like the other areas of Gallicantu, are inspired by the use of natural materials such as iron, stone, and juniper, and are complemented by fabrics and carpets of contemporary Sardinian craftsmanship, made in Samugheo, the island's center of textile excellence.
The old stable is now Gallicantu's kitchen, which welcomes guests for breakfast and dinner, served on a terrace with panoramic views of the villages of Alta Gallura and as far as Corsica. At the center of the estate is the swimming pool, surrounded by olive trees and monoliths, with an honesty bar housed in a wooden hut. One of the most evocative corners is the Grotta: a pre-Nuragic site now used as a cellar for tastings of typical products from nearby stazzi or small local producers.
A SUSTAINABLE RETREAT THAT TELLS THE STORY OF AND PRESERVES THE AUTHENTIC ROOTS OF SARDINIA
"Everything we offer is driven by a strong desire to protect our island. Guests will find exclusively Sardinian products on our menus and can participate in cooking classes preparing traditional Gallura recipes. Wine and oil tastings feature labels made from native grape varieties and the best single cultivars in Sardinia. This is the story we want to tell and a defense of the territory that we seek to support. Gallicantu was designed with respect for the environment, using only locally sourced materials. The wood comes from pruning and cleaning the forest, while the granite blocks, already part of the original structure, have been completely recovered and reused. The project followed a principle of aesthetic sustainability and simplicity: each element was incorporated in continuity with the landscape, without altering its natural balance. Today, Gallicantu produces 40% of its energy needs thanks to solar power, with a fully integrated system that has no visual impact.
Gallicantu's vision stems from a deep respect for local culture and Sardinian identity. Describing this place means talking about how every design choice was made to reflect the connection with the land, history, landscapes, and traditions of the island, which are an integral part of the experience offered. "Gallicantu was created from the restoration of an old abandoned farmhouse that we renovated with a touch of creativity, giving it our own interpretation. We want to convey the slow pace of life in this corner of Sardinia, not too far from the sea and its more mundane life, but at the same time a refuge for those seeking peace and tranquility. We love to see guests picking fruit directly from the tree, smelling the aromatic herbs found on the estate, or following the chef to the vegetable garden to pick seasonal vegetables together."
HOSPITALITY THAT REVEALS THE ARCHAIC SOUL OF THE ISLAND OF NURAGHI
Gallicantu is a way of living and experiencing the territory. From a space dedicated to transhumance, a refuge and center of rural life, it has become a unique hospitality experience: “You arrive and after a few hours it feels like a friend with a beautiful estate in Sardinia has invited you to their home. The only difference is that you have to pay the bill,” comments an American customer on social media. Today, Raffaella and Mario's lu stazzu no longer hosts flocks, but welcomes people, offering experiences and a sense of authentic hospitality, in keeping with the spirit of the land, characterized by the Mistral wind, unspoiled nature, slow rhythms, and a charm that evokes the past and memories, a window onto the ancient soul of an island with timeless charm.
