Costa Smeralda, ItalyLiscia di Vacca
Hotel Pitrizza, Costa Smeralda
Granite coastal enclave
Liscia di Vacca Costa Smeralda, Italy
Opened
1963
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe ClassicOutside the door
Granite coastal enclave
The property runs like an intimate coastal village, trading resort fanfare for low stone cottages tucked beside a private cove.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Low-slung stone villas and grass roofs nestle among natural pink granite boulders.
Notable
An original 1963 Costa Smeralda retreat, hosting discreet travelers for six decades.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Forbes Four-Star
Forbes Travel Guide
2026
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
Sardinia’s down-to-earth charm lends it an unpretentious cool. The rooms and suites are impressive enough, while the pool villas are downright lavish.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Liscia di Vacca's sheltered cove sits just outside, and Porto Cervo's marina and boutiques are a ten-minute drive away.
The rooms
Rooms open onto stone terraces with rustic timber pergolas, while standalone villas add private pools and dedicated butlers.
The saltwater pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The saltwater pool is carved directly into natural pink granite boulders and flushed continuously with filtered seawater.
The gym
The open-air gym sits beneath rustic granite arches, looking straight out across the Mediterranean gardens.
The Grill Restaurant
The dining terrace sits beneath rough stone columns, where chefs grill freshly caught fish over an open flame.
Italian architect Luigi Vietti thought through every detail of the hotel’s construction, fusing the building into the verdant rolling hills with rooftop gardens and natural materials.
At the table
The Bar Pitrizza pours Italian aperitivi beside rustic stone walls, with windows opening out to the terrace.
How it began
Prince Karim Aga Khan IV hired architect Luigi Vietti in 1963, modeling the grass-roofed buildings on traditional Sardinian farmsteads.
“Its distinctive architecture, inspired by ancient Nuraghi structures, creates the feel of a secluded Sardinian village where granite, wood, marble and wild Mediterranean scrub take precedence.”
Costa Smeralda
More like this
Hotel Cala di Volpe, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda
“Sculpted jet-set retreat”
W Sardinia - Poltu Quatu
“Granite fjord resort”
The app
Like this one? There are so many more.
Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.