Reviewed by
Tom Bell
Orosei is lovely, its well-preserved Old Town and 8km beach reason enough to visit. It’s also the gateway to its eponymous Golfo di Orosei bay, where mountain meets sea in dramatic fashion, with beautiful beaches paddling in aquamarine waters at the foot of vast cliffs. And that’s just the start of it. The natural wonders here seem boundless - caves and canyons, the Supramonte mountain range and the legendary Selvaggio Blu, one of the most spectacular coastal hiking trails in Europe. What’s more, from Cala Gonone (15km south) all the way down to Santa Maria di Navarrese, the only way in is by boat or by foot. This is a pristine wilderness, yet it’s easy to enjoy with daily boat trips and guided tours that let you explore its secrets.
As for Mannois, this friendly hotel sits in the Old Town entwined in a labyrinth of cobbled lanes. Rooms and apartments are split between six buildings: historical Sa Corte with its pretty courtyard; Sa Dommo (200m away); Sa Turre (500m away), with a restaurant and roof terrace (fabulous views over town); the newer Su Rosariu building, which houses reception and a pretty breakfast room; Mannu, located next to Su Rosariu; and the loft and apartment building. Good restaurants wait on your doorstep.
As for Mannois, this friendly hotel sits in the Old Town entwined in a labyrinth of cobbled lanes. Rooms and apartments are split between six buildings: historical Sa Corte with its pretty courtyard; Sa Dommo (200m away); Sa Turre (500m away), with a restaurant and roof terrace (fabulous views over town); the newer Su Rosariu building, which houses reception and a pretty breakfast room; Mannu, located next to Su Rosariu; and the loft and apartment building. Good restaurants wait on your doorstep.
Highs
- The pretty rooms are spotlessly clean and many have terraces or balconies
- Sa Corte's courtyard is lovely; and you can have dinner at Sa Turre's rooftop restaurant, especially if you like seafood
- Orosei itself: a small medieval town that stands on the Cedrino river
- Boat trips along the coast and guided hiking tours into the mountains; the walk to Tiscali, an ancient Nuraghic village concealed within a cave, is magical
- It's great value
Lows
- The beach is 3km out of town. However, 8km of golden sand compensate and you can drive down, borrow bikes or jump on the shuttle bus (extra cost)
- Only Historical House Mannu has free parking outside; for the other rooms and apartments, there are public and free parking spots close by
- Economy and Classic Double Rooms are small, though most have balconies
- There’s not a great deal to do at the hotel: no pool, only a small bar
Best time to go
If you want to hike in the hills, then come in April and May or October, where the sun isn’t too hot, but the days are still long. August is the busiest month on the beach. Many restaurants close in mid-October and don’t reopen until April. The hotel closes annually from mid-November to mid-December for a month.
Our top tips
The Golfo di Orosei and the Supramonte are arguably the most spectacular stretch of coastline in Sardinia with magnificent tracts of wild coast and mountain to explore. Good tour operators are at your disposal to help you get the best out of them, and do use them for the majority of your excursions as this land can be perilous at times - paths that cling to the edge of cliffs, and long, rutted dirt tracks to negotiate (for which your hire car is not insured). So hook up with people who know what they’re doing - the hotel can advise. Day trips often take in several sites and include lunch, so it’s not a bad idea to pay approx €30 for a great experience instead of puncturing a tyre 15km up a track. Take proper walking boots (the terrain can be challenging) and pack a rucksack for the day with water, fruit and chocolate.