Sa Cheya Relais & Spa Alghero

The Relais Hotel Sa Cheya Alghero, a superior 4-star hotel, is located in the stunning countryside that surrounds the famous, time-honoured city of Alghero, on the north-western coast of Sardinia.

The complex, constructed using state-of-the-artgreen building techniques, which are geared towards achieving the highest energy efficiency and the lowest environmental impact, is immersed on a little flatland ringed by hills (this being the literal meaning of the name “Sa Cheya”) and offers guests a charming holiday in which luxury of the most modern comforts is combined with exceptionally friendly hospitality.

Alongside the wonderful guest rooms, the Relais also boasts an extremely large swimming pool with hydromassage, at the side of which there are generous spaces where you can relax and soak up the sunshine on the sun-loungers under the parasols, a pool-bar, as well as 2 tennis courts and 2 spas for your private use, a restaurant of quality in with you will find an excellent wine cellar.

The complex is surrounded by 5 hectares of lush grounds, awash with aromatic plants typical of Mediterranean maquis, vibrant flowering bushes and incredibly green lawns.

The complex’s vicinity to Alghero makes it the perfect base from which the visit the fantastic beaches and to discover the natural, archaeological and gastronomic attractions of this part of Sardinia, to go out for shopping in the evening and to live nighlife and “movida” for the younger.

THE HISTORY
Sa Cheya Hotel arose out of the reclamation of an unsanitary marshland located just a few minutes from Alghero, to which we decided several years ago to give a new lease of life and to allow it to make the most of the thousands of years of history on which it could draw.

It is a history embodied by two nuraghi (Bronze Age stone towers) on Mount Calvia and by the discovery of a Nuragic cemetery on Mount Carru, in the vicinity of what is today the Relais, and which could not fail to be recounted and passed down.

The story of the Relais Hotel Sa Cheya began with prolonged reclamation and redevelopment works, intended to turn an unattractive piece of land into something new and beautiful: a strong project in harmony with nature.

What has been created is an immense 5-hectare parkland where, with great care and dedication, we have endeavoured to take in almost every variety of Mediterranean maquis, planting more than 10,000 speciments and, in the process, regenerating an authentic and true slice of Sardinia thanks to the use of trachyte, which is one of the island’s typical types of stone.

We then proceeded with the building of the structure, encapsulating in its architectural design a whole number of references to the design of small Sardinian villages, with multi-coloured facades, so that the new addition would integrate with the surrounding environment recovering local materials.

Here you will find the true heart of our Relais, a place dedicated to those who are looking for peace and quiet, a refuge from everyday life and stress, an hangout for families and food lovers, a romantic bubble for couples while retaining easy access to the wonderful seaside of Alghero and the rest of northern Sardinia, far only few minutes.

THE PHILOSOPHY
At the Relais Sa Cheya, your holiday in Sardinia will have an altogether different flavour. In this Relais Hotel in Alghero everything we have been designed all to welcome you as a guest into a magical, family friendly dimension, where you are sure to enjoy a truly memorable experience.

We have conceived and created everything with total respect for the surrounding environment, on the basis of the latest techniques of sustainable building and energy saving, in order to manage the resources at our disposal, in the most intelligent way possible, aiming to minimum environmental impact

In the extensive, 5-hectare grounds that surround the Relais, you will adore rediscovering the slow rhythms of another age, admiring a form of Mediterranean bio-diversity that is utterly unique, recreated thanks to the painstaking work of expert hands of the owners and faithful collaborators: a regenerated land that now gives the colors and the scents of the past.

The Hotel Sa Cheya Alghero is a source of great proud for us, and constitutes a rare example of how, with commitment and dedication, human input can enrich rather than destroying, and give without exploiting, in a genuine exchange, geared towards authentic nature of ancient inspiration, essence of Sardinia.

The same focus on the earth that plays host to it can also be seen in our restaurant, where we make every effort to use local produce of the highest quality, fresh fish from our local fisherman, sardinian organically reared meats, which we purchase from local suppliers and cook using sustainable techniques.

We go, every morning, to our vegetable garden, rich in aromatic herbs, to gather what is necessary to create special dishes.In this way, a holiday at the Relais Sa Cheya in Alghero takes on a whole new meaning, and will stay with you for a very long time: we strongly trust in ancient value as respect, friendship, dedication, reliability, loyaly and we try to transmit in daily small gestures.

In Alghero, at the Hotel Sa Cheya Relais we make ouselves custodians of traditions hended down by our grandparents who patiently taught us the golden rule of sardinian hospitality: the guest, from wherever he comes from the world, is sacred, a friend to welcome, listen to, feel good.

ROOMS & SUITES
The Relais Sa Cheya has a total of 21 Superior and Deluxe rooms, along with 2 Suites (1 Executive and 1 “Charme”) with private spa. All of the rooms have a fully equipped private terrace or patio, a private entrance and an reinforced door with magnetic opening, to allow you to feel as safe as you do at home.

The choice of high-quality linen, the use of organic, non-allergenic cleaning products, the option to select a preparation based on essences of delicate natural aromas – these are just some of the elements that market to out the care and attention that we lavish on your wellbeing and the quality of your sleep.

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE
The luxury of a Suite and the exclusivity of a private spa. In our Executive Suites, you will enjoy a delightful holiday that is all about wellbeing and relaxation, surrounded by luxury finishes and exclusive comforts, within a magical, untainted natural environment.

Double private entrance; double, fully equipped terrace (one with a view of the swimming pool and one with a view of the lake); a private garden and a private car-parking space – these are just some of the features of these 5-star Suites, which are entirely unique.

The stylish details of the furnishings, the comfortable queen-size bed and the large frosted windows imbue the spaces with a charming, light-filled atmosphere. Moreover, there is a captivating view of the swimming pool, which you will see every morning from your bed, whereas from the spa you look out over the little lake and the mountainsides.

With 75 m2 of space ready to accommodate up to 6 guests, but ideal for couples, the Suites encompass large sleeping quarters with a double bed, sofa bed and en suite bathroom. The sleeping quarters provide direct access to a private spa, which is where these Suites really come into their own.

The spa takes in a living room space including a comfortable sofa with a 40″ TV, a mini-swimming pool with hydromassage, chromotherapy, music therapy and aromatherapy, a Finnish sauna at 90° and a bio sauna at 60°C, a sensory shower and a Turkish bath/hammam.

A bona fide ritual of wellbeing is thus available directly in your Suite, which you can savour alongside your better half for a romantic weekend or for your honeymoon.

On prior request, you can also enjoy a truly tailored wellness service with personalised massages and treatments in the Suite, or you can order the finest cocktails from the Sa Cheya bar to enjoy them in the comfort of your Suite.

The Executive Suite is also enriched by two fully equipped terraces and a private garden, to allow you to make the most of your moments of “al fresco” relaxation with total privacy.

JUNIOR SUITE
Located in the just-constructed part of the Relais, with views over the swimming pool, the waterfall and the private entrance, our Junior Suite are the ideal choice for those who want privacy and luxurious comfort. Objets d’art, designer pieces, harmonious lines and original plays of colour and light characterise these rooms of indisputable and unique personality.

The Junior Suites have also feature a private, fully equipped terrace and can sleep up to four guests. The doorway is fitted with has a magnetic closure and frosted glazing, to make you feel both safe and private.

SUPERIOR ROOM
The Superior rooms are located on the ground and first floors of the main Relais building, and are furnished in finest Mediterranean style, complete with brightly coloured fabrics.

The arched architectural motifs, stone columns, carefully chosen colours and the use of local materials and chestnut and juniper beams all combine to encapsulate the traditions of Sardinian architecture and imbue every space with the same welcoming and relaxing atmosphere that we also find outside.

Equipped with soundproofing and air conditioning, these rooms feature either one double bed or two single beds (a 3rd or 4th bed can be added if required), as well as a fabulous, generously proportioned patio or terrace that is ready and waiting for you to relax like never before.

VILLASOLE RESTAURANT
Care from the mind and body begins at the dining table. For this reason, we pay a great deal of attention to everything concerned with the culinary arts, from the sourcing of the ingredients to the cooking methods.

Within the grounds of the Relais Sa Cheya, a short distance from the swimming pool, the Villasole Restaurant and Events Venue is made of typical Sardinian stone and is embellished with a wooden roof with chestnut beams.

Two welcoming and painstakingly furnished rooms: one is very large and features a stone fireplace, whereas the other is more intimate and suited to special moments, where the soft lighting helps to create an enthralling, magical atmosphere.

The light-filled verandas afford the opportunity to savour the chef’s creations surrounded by the natural paradise of the Mediterranean gardens.

Every evening, the “à la carte” menu served at the restaurant of this boutique hotel offers gourmet food based on the typical dishes of the Algherese and wider Sardinian traditions, characterised by the authenticity and quality of the produce, some sourced from organic farms located just a short distance away.

The philosophy of the Chef Executive, Stefano, the guiding hand at Villasole, is geared towards creating an emotional and gastronomic bridge between tradition and innovation, revisiting traditional dishes to give rise to a gastronomic journey on which Sardinia crosses paths with the multi-culturality of flavourings and spices, and with a number of international ingredients.

The chef works hard to make the most of the excellent local meats and strictly the freshest of fish; these ingredients constitute the cornerstones of his philosophy, which is all about wellbeing, health and low-temperature cooking.

As a guest here, you can savour healthy, well-calibrated cooking, choosing from customised menus if they have food intolerances, alongside entirely gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian menus, as well as menus designer for those on specific diets.

The authentic nature of the produce is a guarantee of our commitment towards giving children the very best nutrition, and we have dishes designed especially with them in mind. Our sweets are lovingly prepared by expert hands to make your time at Villasole all the more unforgettable.

The pizza chef is a master at making our mouth-watering pizzas, which use carefully selected ingredients and are cooked in a wood-fired oven. The choice of the flour to use, the creation of the finest dough and respect for the proofing times all combine to make our pizzas some of the very best you will ever eat. Moreover, with various types of dough available (normal, wholegrain or multi-grain), you are sure to find the one that suits you best.

The wine cellar is stocked with a wealth of the finest wines made in Sardinia, with a focus on the various different types, with a view to offering you a plethora of opportunities that together encapsulate the culture and traditions of the constantly developing Sardinian wine-making sector.

Such is the diversity of wines on offer, that connoisseurs are sure to be as delighted as newbies, for whom fascinating pathways have been designed to all them to develop their palates.

The stylish, colourful design of the space , the music wafting in the air and the delicate nature of the lighting all combine to generate a relaxing atmosphere in which the accent is on the flavours, ensuring that this will be an experience to treasure.

THE BREAKFAST
At the Villasole restaurant, we serve up delicious breakfasts every morning – a moment of great pleasure here at Sa Cheya. Those with a sweet tooth will have fun choosing between just-baked brioches – either plain or filled with jam or chocolate – fresh bread and typical Sardinian sweets, cereals, home-made honey, jams, biscuits, yoghurt made of cow’s or goat’s milk, and fresh seasonal fruit.

Our pride and joy are our tarts, with fillings including apple, chocolate, yoghurt and pineapple. High-quality parma ham and cured meats, cheeses, mozzarella, tomatoes, local vegetables and eggs, bacon, beans, pizzas and cold dishes – the array of options is sure to satisfy those with a savoury palate. Everything is served with excellent coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cappuccino and freshly made juices.

As always, we do our level best to offer produce from Sardinia with a view to lowering the carbon footprint as far as possible, with no compromise on quality, freshness and authenticity.

Moreover, we go the extra mile to meet the needs of guests who suffer from intolerances and allergies, offering customised menus for coeliac sufferers, taking great care to ensure that the ingredients do not contain or become contaminated by gluten. Thanks to the wide selection of food and drink, vegetarians and vegans, too, can start their day the right way with a hearty breakfast.

EVENTS & WEDDINGS IN SARDINIA
Are you dreaming of a wedding set against a stunning backdrop, immersed in the greenery but close to the sea and even featuring a beautiful swimming pool for a stylish aperitif? Then the Relais Sa Cheya is the right choice for you.

Our staff will be delighted to work out every detail of your big day with you: from thearrangement of the ground and the interiors, to the poolside aperitifs, putting together a refined, high-quality menu.

The happy couple can then end the day in one of our magnificent Executive Suites, relaxing in the private spa and waking up as a married couple to the sounds and fragrances of the countryside outside Alghero.

THE SPA
At the Sa Cheya Relais in Alghero, you will find the finest wellness treatments in an intimate, welcoming location, with its own entrance and a private garden where you can re-charge your batteries like never before. Our private, 45m2 spas are only available for use by our guests. Prior booking is required.

The area offers a large living room, complete with a sofa, a 40″ TV, a desk, enriched with all of the comforts you would expect of a spa, allowing you to regain your body’s harmony and wellbeing.

As a guest you will also have access to a mini-swimming pool with hydromassage, chromotherapy, music therapy and aromatherapy, a Finnish sauna at 90°C and a bio sauna at 60°C, a sensory shower and a Turkish bath/hammam.

This oasis of relaxation is completed by a large, fully equipped terrace and a private garden, both affording views over the little lake and the mountains of Alghero.

THE SWIMMING POOL
The Relais Sa Cheya combines the relaxation of the country life with the refreshing cool of a beautiful, 25-metre-long swimming pool, immersed in the lush greenery of its extensive grounds covered in the plants and flowers of Mediterranean maquis.

You can decide whether to spend your days discovering the magnificent beaches of Alghero or relaxing on the comfortable sun loungers sheltered by parasols and re-charging your batteries with a wonderful dip in the pool or a mouth-watering aperitif expertly prepared by our bar staff.

The swimming pool includes a hydromassage zone, a solarium, a waterfall made of local Sardinian stone and a space dedicated entirely to children, to allow families to indulge in some stress-free relaxation.

THE POOLSIDE BAR
The Relais Sa Cheya offers two bar areas: one situated in the lounge next to Reception and the other at the side of the swimming pool. Welcoming and relaxing, the indoor Lounge Bar is a light-filled space thanks to the French doors that open out onto the swimming pool and to the large terraces that surround the entire building.

It is the perfect place for meeting in the morning to organise the day ahead, or to make a date for the evening, when you can sip on a fresh aperitif as you talk about the day you have just had. Our bar staff will delight your palate with cocktails and aperitifs of all types – both alcohol and non-alcoholic – served just the way you like them at our poolside bar.

TENNIS COURT
If you want to stay in Alghero without renouncing your passion during your holiday, our Relais offers two brand-new international-standard GreenSet tennis courts surrounded by the tranquillity of the grounds of Sa Cheya. You can even get lessons from an Italian Tennis Federation teacher and book balls and rackets at Reception.

ALGHERO
The first tourists in Sardinia arrived in Alghero around 50 years ago for their holiday, allowing the city to garner a reputation as the “golden gateway” of Sardinian tourism.

Alghero boasts a wonderful tract of sea, where the water is both transparent and inviting, and where the long beaches of fine white sand alternate with majestic cliffs, inlets, lagoons, mountains and flatlands create an evocative, unforgettable landscape.

This major tourist port is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. An immense array of fascinating places; parks, terrestrial and marine protected areas, history and archaeology, all around the city and its historical centre, which is unlike any other in Sardinia.

A “Foretress City” that plays host to stunning historic palazzos, cobbled alleyways and little squares. In every gracious corner of his architectural jewel, you will find a large variety of restaurants, coffee bars, pubs, boutiques and businesses of all types.

Characteristic in its antiquity, fascinating in its history, refined in its artistic and cultural beauty, it offers glimpses and views that make it entirely unforgettable. Alghero is a destination of choice for those who want to enjoy a seaside holiday while savouring a city with a thousand facets.

Alghero is an incredibly fascinating city: this ancient, fortified city, founded by the Doria family 9 centuries ago and with a history of conquests and influences of different cultures.

It is much sought-after for its strategic location in the centre of the Mediterranean. A major port for trade by sea and home to a range of fertile plains behind the conurbation, Alghero has always been a jewel in the Sardinian crown.

The city has close links with the Spanish region of Catalonia, deriving from its history: after its conquest by the Aragonese in 1350, it was ruled by the Catalans for around 250 years, before being seized by the Castilians, who remained at the helm for another 120 years.

The city is also known as Barceloneta, or “little Barcelona”, and alongside the numerous Aragonese towers to be found in the city and along the coast, it has retained theuse of the Catalan language.

A large part of the natives speak the Catalan variant called Algherese. The Spanish domination came to an end on 17 February, 1720, when Philip V reluctantly signed the transfer to Victor Amadeus II of Savoy.

It is the main city on the so-called Coral Riviera (“Riviera del Corallo”), the name deriving from the fact that in the waters of its natural harbour there is a large amount of precious red coral of the highest quality, which is still fished to this day by underwater coral fishermen.

Over the centuries, the working and sale of coral has been central to the city’s economy and culture – to such an extent, in fact, that the coral brand is part of the city’s coat-of-arms.

The most important beaches here, all of which are located within the marine protected area, are the beautiful, 7 km-long Maria Pia beach, and Le Bombarde beach, each of which has a large pine forest behind it, which is a wonderful place to take refuge during the warmest hours of the day.

Also within the Gulf of Alghero is the Lazzaretto beach and Mugoni beach, which delineates the wide |nymph bay” of Porto Conte, closed over and protected by the so-called “sleeping man” (Capo Caccia), the glorious limestone promontory that plays host to the famous Neptune’s Caves (Grotte di Nettuno) which are unlike any other sea caves in the Mediterranean.

Proceeding northwards from the promontory on the western coast of the island, you come to Porticciolo beach and the enchanting Porto Ferro beach, an untainted area of rare beauty, which is a favourite of surfers.

The impressive landscape of the southern coast of the city is mostly rocky and wild, and includes several small inlets and bays that are difficult to reach but feature pools of crystal-clear water.

The road that runs along this coast is a trip worth taking in and of itself; the fabulous rock formations eroded by the mistral and the libeccio create very unusual shapes, which force you to take your eyes off the cobalt-coloured sea.

Around 10 km from the city, there is one of the area’s most beautiful beaches, La Speranza, also known as Poglina, which is surrounded by mountains covered by Mediteranean maquis and still inhabited by griffon vultures. Here, to meet the sea, the mountains ask the Speranza beach for permission. In other words, this is a truly enchanted place.

ACTIVITIES & SURROUNDINGS
There’s something for everyone in and around Alghero. Here you will find a list of just some of the places of interest and entertainment on offer in and around Alghero.

• Golf – just a few miles from the village of Fertilia (part of Greater Alghero), there is a 9-hole golf course.
• Neptune’s Caves (Le Grotte di Nettuno) – famous caves located under the promontory of Capo Caccia, which can be reached either by sea or on land via the staircase known as the “Escala de Cabirol”.
• The Nuraghe Palmavera and the Necropoli of Anghelo Ruju and domus de janas – Some of the most important archaeological sites from the Nuragic era, with guided tours.
• The Romana villa of Saint Imbenia at Porto Conte and the necropolis of Santu Pedru – along with road for Ittiri, beyond the fork for Olmedo.
• Le Ragnatele – Adventure playground for children at Le Bombarde beach – a fantastic playpark that allows youngsters to climb trees, option for outdoor barbeque.
• Riviera del Corallo Go Kart track – an illuminated track that you can race round to your heart’s content at the wheel of a go kart.
• Boat trips – Numerous options for making by the most of the Gulf of Alghero by sea, with the possibility of lunch on board, sport fishing and tourist fishing.
• Hire of boats and inflatables – To personalise your day at the seaside and visit all of the smallest and most evocative inlets.
• Watersports – On the coast off Alghero, you can throw yourself into every imaginable waterproof, and lessons are available for most of them, too. Options include: sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, waterskiing, snorkelling and canoeing.
• Alghero is renowned above as the location for the Porto Conte Marine Park, which plays host to myriad under-sea marvels, and for its limestone coast, which includes a great many caves to visit.
• Terrestrial sports – Horse-riding: less than a mile from the hotel, there is an equestrian centre where you can take lessons from qualified instructors (for adults and children) or explore the countryside on horseback.
• Cycling – (bikes can be hired either at the hotel or in town): in Alghero, there is a cycle routs that criss-crosses its way across the city, and stretches all the way to Le Bombarde beach. Also on offer are skating, trekking, jogging and rambling.

You can explore the Porto Conte Regional Park, on foot, by bike or on horseback (prior booking required ). The park enables you to catch sight of a plethora of flora and fauna in the wild, such as Giara horses, white donkeys, boar, turtles, fallow deer and Sardinian deer, as well as numerous birds and seabirds.

Nearby, less than 50km from Alghero, there are numerous places worth visiting, such as the quant town of Bosa along the coast, directly south of Alghero, which is known as the site of the Malaspina castle, the River Temo (the only navigable river in Sardinia) and its crafts (particularly the delicate lace worked by the local women, the art of which is passed down across the generations).

From Bosa, it is easy to reach Villanova Monteleone, an ancient town rich in history, situated between the mountains behind Alghero, which affords breathtaking views of the oak and chestnut forests, and above all towards Alghero on the panoramic road that leads down to the town.

This road, known as the “Scala Picada”, has been used for 50 years multiple times per year for national high-speed motor races, the most famous of which is the “Corallo Rally”.

To the north of Alghero, you come to Stintino, an ancient fishing village that plays host to the celebrated beach of La Pelosa, situated across from Piana island, a beach of fine white sand with crystal-clear, transparent water that could easily be in the Caribbean! Moreover, from Stintino you can take the ferry to visit, on the same day, the island of Asinara, which was previously infamous as the site of a high-security prison and now entirely given over to a National Park. The island includes a number of unique sites of uncontaminated nature.

To the north-east, you come to Castelsardo, a picturesque town with a wonderful historical centre within the walls of the castle ont the hill, which is very well-known as a centre for Sardinian crafts.

Rooms: 21

Price: from 84 EUR per night

Source: www.hotelsacheyarelais.it