The Sardinian Collection · JBHBV
The Sardinian Collection · JBHBV
The Soul of the Mediterranean
Sardinia is an invitation to reconnect with the elements. A land of dramatic granite cliffs and emerald waters, it is a place where time seems to pause. At JBHBV, we have selected locations that capture this essence—between the historic charm of Cagliari and the serene beauty of the coast.
See the residencesSavour the authentic flavours of Sardinia: world-class Vermentino wines, artisanal pecorino, and the freshest seafood from the Mediterranean.
Experience the legendary ‘Blue Zone’ shores. From hidden coves accessible only by boat to the expansive turquoise horizons of the South.
Wander through historic alleys where Roman heritage meets vibrant modern art, just steps away from our urban sanctuary, Dimora LAJ.
Around the Houses
Sardinia is not simply a coastline. Between Cagliari and the coves of the south-east lies a capital built on a rock, a market that feeds the whole island, bronze-age towers older than Rome, and a kitchen that belongs to nowhere else in Italy.
01
Cagliari is built on a limestone ridge, and its oldest quarter sits on top of it. Castello is a walled citadel of narrow lanes, with two Pisan watchtowers — the Torre dell’Elefante and the Torre di San Pancrazio — still standing after seven centuries. From the terraces of the Bastione di Saint Remy the whole gulf opens below you, and at the top of the quarter the cathedral keeps its Pisan bones under a later facade.
02
Sardinians shop at San Benedetto, a covered market on two floors where the whole island arrives each morning. Downstairs the fish — tuna, sea urchins in season, octopus, the grey mullet whose roe becomes bottarga. Upstairs the cheese, the bread, the vegetables. Go before midday, and go hungry.
03
The island cooks unlike the mainland. Culurgiones, pleated parcels of potato, mint and pecorino. Fregola, toasted semolina pearls, with clams. Pane carasau, the shepherd’s parchment bread. Porceddu, suckling pig turned slowly over myrtle wood. And at the end, seadas — warm cheese pastry under bitter honey.
04
Sardinia makes wine with a character of its own. Cannonau, the island’s great red, deep and warm. Vermentino, white and saline, the natural companion to everything that comes out of the sea here. And in the south-west, on old ungrafted vines planted in sand, the Carignano del Sulcis — the local bottle worth bringing home.
05
Scattered across the island stand some seven thousand nuraghi, conical stone towers raised in the Bronze Age by a civilisation that left no writing. The greatest of them, Su Nuraxi di Barumini, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, about an hour inland. Closer to the coast, at Pula, the Phoenician and Roman city of Nora runs down into the sea.
06
The Poetto stretches eight kilometres along the city’s edge, white sand and kiosks, busy and cheerful in summer. Behind it the Molentargius salt ponds hold a resident colony of pink flamingos — wild birds, a few minutes from the centre. Drive east instead and the coast turns wilder, towards the clear water and granite coves of Villasimius.
What to Do
Beaches, markets, bronze-age towers and flamingo lagoons — almost everything worth the drive is within the hour. Times below are driving times from Baia Azzurra. Hover a point on the map for its name and distance, or click it for a route from either house and the official website.
Southern Sardinia, from Cagliari to Villasimius · Open a larger map
Covered markets, medieval towers, subterranean crypts and prehistoric art — ten places for shade, culture and all-weather discovery.
Mercato di San Benedetto · 25 min
Europe’s premier indoor food hall — fishmongers with oysters and red prawns downstairs, pecorino and cured meats above.
Torre dell’Elefante · 26 min
The 1307 white limestone Pisan watchtower above the Castello, with open-air views across the port and the old roofs.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale · 28 min
In the Cittadella dei Musei: the 3,000-year-old stone giants of Mont’e Prama and Bronze Age bronzetti.
Cagliari Sotterranea · 25 min
A guided descent into Roman water reservoirs, Punic crypts and wartime air-raid tunnels beneath the streets.
Sa Dom’e Farra · 12 min
A preserved 17th-century Campidanese estate house with its courtyards, wine presses and farm tools.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria · 26 min
A 13th-century cathedral on Piazza Palazzo, with polychrome marble inlay and a crypt carved with 592 rosettes.
Pinacoteca Nazionale · 28 min
The island’s foremost fine arts collection: 15th-century Spanish-Flemish retablos and classical painting.
Museo Archeologico di Villasimius · 30 min
Amphorae, terracotta statues and gold coins salvaged from wrecks off the headland.
Cantine Argiolas · 35 min
Family cellars at Serdiana, with tasting flights of Cannonau, Vermentino and aged balsamic.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini · 55 min
The UNESCO megalithic complex — monumental stone chambers and corbelled corridors from 1500 BC.
Turquoise coves, flamingo lagoons, clifftop bastions and coastal lookouts. Nine for the sunny days.
Baia Azzurra Beach · 3 min
Right outside the villa gates: a quiet uncrowded pebble-and-sand cove, clear and calm for an early swim.
Cala Regina · 10 min
A wild pebble inlet framed by juniper, under an old Spanish lookout tower. Brilliant clarity for snorkelling.
Molentargius Nature Reserve · 15 min
Protected salt pans with resident colonies of pink flamingos, avocets and egrets, and quiet walking paths.
Spiaggia di Solanas · 22 min
A wide golden beach in a granite amphitheatre, sheltered from the westerlies, with a gentle entry.
Punta Molentis · 35 min
A double-sided peninsula near Villasimius: aquamarine water, white sand and wind-sculpted granite.
Spiaggia di Mari Pintau · 14 min
The “painted sea” cove, where polished white stones turn the water emerald and jade.
Poetto Beach · 18 min
Eight kilometres of golden sand with beach kiosks, seafood restaurants and a long promenade.
Bastione di Saint Remy · 25 min
A neoclassical limestone terrace above the marina — the sunset spot for an aperitivo.
Orto Botanico di Cagliari · 28 min
Shaded university gardens with monumental ficus trees, rare Mediterranean plants and Roman wells.
Coastal headland hikes, RIB charters, cycling and wind sports across the Gulf of Angels.
Sella del Diavolo · 22 min
An hour’s ridge walk above the limestone cliffs at Calamosca, to Phoenician ruins and the whole bay.
Lagoon Bicycle Hire · 15 min
Level gravel paths around the salt basins at Molentargius — you cycle within metres of the flamingos.
Parco dei Sette Fratelli · 25 min
Forest trails under holm oak and cork, among granite spires, with the native Sardinian red deer.
Maxi-RIB Boat Charter · 5 min
A skippered zodiac from the marina at Capitana, out to sea grottos and bays reachable only by water.
Windsurfing & Kitesurfing · 18 min
Lessons and gear at the watersports centres along Poetto, where the thermal breeze is reliable.
Car Hire · 5 min
Victory, at the harbour in Capitana, hires cars as well as boats and water gear — five minutes from Baia Azzurra, and easier than queuing at the airport. The usual companies are at Cagliari-Elmas for arrivals.
Our Addresses
These are the tables we book, the bars we sit at and the shops we use when we are here — not a list copied from a guide.
In Cagliari
Antico Caffè dal 1855Piazza Costituzione, CagliariOur favourite
Our own hang-out. An all-day table under the Bastione, open from seven in the morning until two at night, where Cagliari sits and watches itself go by.
Is FemminasVia Napoli, Cagliari
Some of the best Sardinian home cooking in the city, served with real affection. Do not skip the dolci.
Antica CagliariVia Sardegna, Cagliari
In the Marina quarter, on the street of the old trattorias. Good cooking and very good pizza, every day of the week.
DitrizioVia Francesco Crispi, Cagliari
Cakes and pastries you will forget to order coffee with. Go in the late afternoon, when the ladies of Cagliari have theirs. Closed Mondays.
Near the houses, and along the coast
Victory by Lord NelsonCapitana · Quartu Sant’Elena
In the harbour at Capitana, with the sailing boats moored alongside. Fish and meat both done well, and you can eat either in the room or outside — it stays relaxed whichever you choose. They also hire cars, boats and water gear. Closed Tuesdays.
MammaiQuartu Sant’Elena
A roadside Italian diner, owned and run by women, serving honest local food at fair prices. Tables inside and out.
Green House — Pizza & CucinaQuartu Sant’Elena
The local pizzeria, a few minutes from Baia Azzurra. Wood-fired, and open from early morning as the neighbourhood bar. Eat in or carry it home.
Bread, coffee and the weekly shop
Grim CaffèQuartu Sant’Elena
Where we pick up the bread and the morning pastry. Very good fresh orange juice, and very friendly people.
COOPQuartu Sant’Elena
Next door to Grim, and the nearest supermarket to the house. Butcher and fish counter in the shop.
Carrefour ExpressVia Manno, Cagliari
A minute from Dimora LAJ, at the top of the street. Small, but it has what you need for breakfast and the first evening. Open every day, late.
CRAIPiazza Yenne, Cagliari
The bigger shop, at the bottom of Via Manno, three or four minutes downhill. Open seven days a week and late into the evening — the one to use for a proper weekly shop.
Before you arrive
Sardegna TurismoThe whole island
The official tourism board of the Region of Sardinia — beaches, sites, events and opening times across the island.
Cagliari TurismoThe city
The city’s own tourism office: monuments, museums, guided walks and what is on while you are here.
Our Selection
Sardinia · Italy
The Art & Sea Masterpiece
A rare ‘author’s residence’ where Mediterranean nature meets international art. Nestled in the prestigious Borgo dei Conti just minutes’ walk from the sea, this sanctuary villa features bespoke murals and a high-end design for up to 6 guests. From the private pool to the shaded veranda, and the sea view from the first floor, every detail has been curated to offer a sophisticated sensory experience and breathtaking sunsets over the Sardinian coast.
Cagliari · Sardinia · Italy
Urban Elegance in the Heart of Cagliari
A prestigious historic residence nestled in the heart of Cagliari between the castle and the marina. This oasis of beauty and silence offers a timeless experience where Sardinian tradition meets modern design. Restored by a local artist, the home features a grand luxury entrance leading to a lush interior garden and a panoramic terrace with sea views, complete with a pergola for refined relaxation.
JBHBV Realty & Rentals
English · Français · Nederlands
Hello ! We look after our portfolio ourselves — ask us anything about dates, the village or getting here.