The Capo D’Orso spa hotel is Gaullura, Mario in Sardinia
There’s a reason why Sardinians live so long (there are ten times more centenarians per capita than in the US).
A combination of the simple outdoor life, close family ties and a lean, plant-based diet all washed down with a glass or two of local wine, does wonders for your lifespan.
Keen to extend our longevity and enjoy a spot of la dolce vita Sardinia-style, my girlfriend and I flew to Olbia and then headed north to the verdant coastal region of Gallura.
Pictured: Porto Cervo on Sardinia's infamous Costa Smeralda - ideal if you're into celebspotting and ogling the latest designer goods at eye-shattering prices
First stop, the infamous Costa Smeralda. If you’re into celebspotting and ogling the latest designer goods at eye-shattering prices, it’s worth spending a few hours cruising the resorts along this 12-mile stretch.
Wandering through Porto Cervo’s main square, past all the usual designer shop suspects, we popped into an ordinary cafe only to pop straight out again – €9 (£8) for a black coffee and another five for a croissant seemed excessive, even for the capital of bling.
We skulked back to our tatty Fiat 500 rental car and continued our journey north. As you leave Costa Smeralda, the coastline becomes less manicured and more romantic.
Make sure you stop at one of the many beaches that line this breezy stretch of heavenly highway. You will be guaranteed the silkiest of white sand and the deepest turquoise waters.
James didn't hang around long before driving to the Capo D’Orso spa hotel in Gallura, Mario, where he and his girlfriend took full advantage of its glorious pools (pictured)
On arrival at the Capo D’Orso spa hotel, nestled within a forested swathe on the northeastern tip of Gallura, Mario, the ruddy-cheeked manager, chivvied us out on to a promontory overlooking the glistening port of Cala Capra.
‘You’re just in time,’ he said through a broad, beatific grin. ‘I never tire of this view, especially at sunset.’
When I joked that we hadn’t spotted a single celeb during our visit to Costa Smeralda, Mario tapped his nose and whispered: ‘The proper celebrities come here.’
No doubt when the stars do descend on this magical place, they head straight for the spa. The three adjoining outdoor pools contain seawater of differing temperatures and a range of hydro-massage jets.
The waters here supposedly contain healing qualities, so when our spa treatment expert noticed eczema on my girlfriend’s elbow, she recommended a dip in the coldest of the three pools, followed by a stint in a warmer pool.
For my painful knee and shoulder, a plunge in the chilliest pool and 20 minutes in the sauna gave me some temporary respite. Now all I had to do was transport Capo D’Orso’s 25-acre site, including its spectacular golf courses, back to my tiny apartment in London.
After a lunch of red snapper and some fine Vermentino, my non-golfing girlfriend and I took to the fairway. The epic view across the bay to the island of Caprera more than made up for our appalling backswings.
As we headed off the course, we made a vow that one day we would grow properly old here and join the Sardinian centenarians club.
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