Coming in through the big blue door is like walking on to a stage set: an ancient olive tree at the cobbled centre, a boat decked with bougainvillea… and the backdrop: this beautifully restored house. It’s bliss to step out of the sun into the cool, shady interior of the ground floor apartments. All is stylishly rustic with colours ranging from earthy floor and Mediterranean kitchen tiles, to chunky wooden and chalk-blue beams and bold African-inspired ochre and turquoise. Interesting arty finds, open fireplaces, a cushioned sofa-bed, quirky pieces in niches, reclaimed timber, and compact, comfortable bed and shower rooms; their windows onto a forgotten street. Up in the first floor apartment: more chic, seductive rustic design flair with light and airy views over rooftops to the hills beyond. A similarly well-equipped kitchen, an inviting dining table, pale sofabeds and a pretty net-canopied double. Teulada is five minutes’ drive from an outstandingly lovely stretch of coast, with craggy cliffs and sandy beaches – super-quiet out of season – and under an hour from Cagliari. A very memorable special place.
A really charming base for a few days to tour around and enjoy wonderful places like Nora (Carthaginian/Roman ruins by the sea), the beaches of Chia and the fascinating island of Sant'Antiocho (ever heard of a Tophet?) Also a lovely beach 5 mins by car for quieter days closer to home (we went off-season). It's a truly atmospheric apartment with romantic courtyard. The interior lighting after dark is insufficient, but Antonio plans to fix that.