Holiday Homes Sardinia: Villa Luna di Villasimius – Sardinia4all.co.uk

Villas in the south-east of Sardinia tend to be booked for one of two reasons: the sea, or the stillness. Villa Luna di Villasimius manages both, sitting in the countryside just outside one of the island’s most appealing coastal towns.

Where you are

Villasimius lies at the south-eastern tip of Sardinia, roughly an hour’s drive from Cagliari and its airport. The town itself is small and unhurried, with a working fishing harbour, a modest grid of streets, and a seafront that fills with families in July and August. Off-season it reverts to something quieter and, many would argue, more pleasant.

The surrounding coastline is the real draw. Within a short drive you reach a string of beaches that range from broad, pale-sand bays to small coves tucked beneath granite headlands. The marine protected area off Capo Carbonara covers some of the clearest water in this part of the island and is popular with divers and snorkellers.

The villa

Villa Luna sits in open country a few minutes from the centre of Villasimius, close enough for an evening out but far enough to escape the summer traffic. It is a detached property with its own grounds, outdoor space and parking, and it is let as a whole rather than in apartments.

The layout suits a family or a group of friends: living areas that open onto the garden, a kitchen equipped for proper cooking, and bedrooms arranged so that everyone is not on top of one another. Outside there is space to eat, shade to sit in during the heat of the afternoon, and enough room for children to run about.

What to do nearby

• Beaches. The nearest stretches of sand are a short drive away. Spiaggia di Simius and the long beach at Campulongu are the obvious starting points; further round the coast, Punta Molentis and Porto Giunco are the ones people photograph.
• Capo Carbonara. The headland at the eastern end of the bay, with its lighthouse and marine reserve, is worth a half-day. Boat trips leave from the harbour.
• Villasimius town. Restaurants here lean heavily on fish, as you would expect. The evening passeggiata along the seafront is a fixture in summer.
• Further afield. Cagliari is close enough for a day trip, as are the wetlands around the Molentargius and the old mining country inland.

Practical notes

A car is more or less essential in this part of Sardinia; the villa’s location makes it straightforward to reach the beaches and the town without relying on timetables. The main season runs from late spring through early autumn, with July and August the busiest and most expensive. May, June, September and early October tend to offer warm weather with far more space on the sand.

Villasimius is served by Cagliari Elmas airport, about an hour away by road.