OUR PHILOSOPHY

According to the ancient philosophers, nature and human beings consist of four elements. What do we do here at Cascioni to protect them?
These days, it’s often referred to as sustainability. But for us, it’s a long-standing tradition of gratitude towards the generous land that is our home.

Air

Water

Land

Fire

Here at Cascioni, we are lucky enough to enjoy blue skies, extraordinarily mild weather and clear air. Breezes from both land and sea waft across the estate. It’s no coincidence that over 250 species of birds choose this place as a winter home where they nest and teach their young to fly. Or that butterflies come here in great numbers, or that bees happily enjoy the hives installed at the edge of the estate: our natural environment is particularly welcoming, and nothing disturbs it.

In keeping with that sense of balance, we rely on quiet, clean methods of getting around: by walking, using electric bicycles or micro-cars, or driving Renault electric cars, available for hire for those who want to travel outside of the Retreat. Or if you already have an electric vehicle, we have charging stations at your disposal. In one of our kayaks, you can also venture out into the oasis of our protected lagoon, revelling in its silence. Or enjoy a trip on our yacht BonAria, which will take you to explore the surrounding islets.

And if you are wondering where all this clean energy comes from, the answer is: exclusively from certified renewable sources.

Then there is the air in your suites, furnished with all natural materials. Each room is equipped with A/C, of course, but we encourage you to consider using natural ventilation when it is sufficient for your needs and comfort. Or just turn off the A/C when you leave: while it’s a small gesture, it’s a big deal for the environment.

Because going on holiday these days also entails understanding and participating in our joint effort, and sharing the dream of a world as clean as the air on our estate.

What else is there to say about our sea? The Gulf of Arzachena opens onto one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. It’s celebrated for its beauty, its transparency, its colours, its scenery. For the life it nurtures, and for its extraordinary cleanliness, a result of the currents that nourish it, oxygenate it, and ensure its waters turn over.

But the water cycle begins elsewhere, in the Limbara massif that overlooks this part of Sardinia. From there, during the winter months, rushing streams descend into the valley. The same massif is the origin of the stream that crosses our estate and flows into the Saloni pond, which constitutes 30 hectares of Protected Wildlife Oasis, home to numerous species of fish, frogs, and wild birds.
So as not to upset this delicate balance, we practice only organic farming on the estate, and water waste is prohibited. That means embracing native vegetation, which needs only the local rainfall, no additional irrigation. We grow Mediterranean fruit trees, which are used to getting by almost entirely by themselves, and we have planted 3,000 olive trees, which help retain moisture in the soil and which are very resistant to hot and dry summers. By the way, would you consider adopting one? It will bear your name, and even when you are far away, we will lavish it with attention as it grows.

Within the Retreat, respect for water is paramount. Our staff shares our vision of eco-friendly hospitality and responsible stewardship of natural resources, whether in the estate, the vegetable patch, the gardens, or the kitchen. Indeed, cleaning and maintenance operations studiously avoid leaks, and detergents are used sparingly, with a preference for eco-friendly ones. These efforts are part of a broader program to judiciously use and recycle water resources. For example, the water in the swimming pool – chlorine-free thanks to state-of-the-art filtering technology – is used as a reserve for the vegetable and flower gardens once the pool is no longer in use. Only pure, clean water reaches our fields, our lagoon, and the sea.

Our guests can contribute if they want an eco-friendly holiday. How? By not changing sheets and towels too often; by using our taps which save water, through jets that add air bubbles to the water, making it more pleasant on the skin; by closing the tap when they don’t need water; and by using natural soaps and cosmetics, like those produced on the estate using olive oil and local essences. They contain no microplastics, making them ideal for the health of your skin and that of the water to which they will return.

That is why our guests will find a short pamphlet in their suites about our ecological efforts. These are but suggestions and reflections for those who want their holidays to be as fresh and pure as the water we treasure.

Let’s start by talking about our nature. This region is the oldest in Italy – 570 million years old, to be precise. It is the least inhabited region, as well as the cleanest, and it overlooks the most famous sea in the world. And it boasts the wildest countryside, pristine and teeming with biodiversity.

Our history is nothing to scoff at either. The pre-Nuragic and Nuragic cultures, unique in the world, gave us marvellous megalithic temples and an archipelago of 10,000 stone towers scattered throughout the island, as well as
a rich heritage of bronze artefacts. Then came the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Byzantines, and many others; each of these peoples and cultures left their mark upon how our towns were built as well as our local customs.

For evidence, look no further than the small villages where this ancient and proud culture still exists: handicrafts made from cork and leather, ceramics, wood carving, and hand weaving. Evidence can also be found in the countryside itself, rife with wheat, vines, and olive trees, or in the wild areas of the interior, amid the holm oak forests, gorges, and granite rocks where the most archaic pastoral civilization in Europe endures.

Then there is our estate: over 18 hectares of orderly crops and wild countryside, all overlooking a vast protected lagoon, as well as a park where we have planted 3,000 olive trees, an orchard, and a large organic vegetable garden. Natural vegetation grows undisturbed almost to the edge of our suites: mastic trees, strawberry trees, junipers, myrtles. Then there are the evergreens which survive on rainwater, which gladden our hearts with their wild, multicoloured blooms in the height of summer. That’s when they release their scent with the greatest intensity, opening their fronds to blackbirds’ nests, giving shade and shelter to wild hares, and offering their leaves and roots to traditional herbal medicine.

An extraordinary heritage in an unparalleled natural setting, and one which we consider our duty to protect out of love, above and beyond what the law requires.

That is why our Retreat is managed in such a respectful and environmentally conscious way. Each member of our staff is nearly all from this region, and all have a deep relationship with the land. They love nature as much as we do, and every year they increase their awareness and their commitment by participating in professional courses and workshops.

That is also why we pay the utmost attention to waste: reducing rubbish, favouring natural composting, almost completely banning synthetic plastics in favour of cornstarch (the use of which we keep to a minimum). We have also almost entirely abolished paper in our offices. The few inevitable sheets that remain are printed on recycled paper, and the pages of our notebooks are made from apple peels and cores. If you were wondering why our menus and service information are all-digital, accessible through our app, now you know!

Moreover, we are closely intertwined with the land: the ingredients of most dishes served in our restaurants come from the estate. What we don’t produce directly – flour, fish, cheese, sweets, wine, and a handful of other traditional Sardinian delicacies – we buy exclusively from local producers.

And perhaps it is due to the quality of our local food that Sardinia is one of 5 Blue Zones worldwide, identified based on quality of life as well as the number of centenarians present. They are the witnesses to a culture yet to be studied,
unwitting masters of a lifestyle as happy and healthy as our land.

Our Retreat is deeply rooted in the area and its traditions: Cascioni is not a chain hotel, but rather an old family estate that has opened its hearth to guests, as was the norm for centuries in the Gallura region. Local farmhouses, situated in the open countryside, were always ready to welcome travellers. Just like at those Nuragic hearths which sometimes re-emerge, blackened, thanks to archaeological excavations.

Hospitality is an innate trait of our people, a fire in their souls.
A fire much like the one that warms the atmosphere of our restaurants, the one that makes our roasts so delectable, the one that cooks our simple and healthy dishes.

But we also have the modern equivalent of fire: electricity. This clean and silent energy powers our internal and external means of transport, heats the sauna and swimming pools, and keeps the technological comforts of the Hotel humming along. We purchase it exclusively from certified renewable sources, and we are careful to seek out additional energy-saving opportunities, such as LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances.

And our guests, too, are invited to take part in our “green” approach. Without sacrificing their comfort and well-being, of course, but by making some small adjustments of their own. For example, guests might advise us half an hour before they plan to visit the sauna or the Turkish bath, or when they want to ensure the waters of their private pool are warm enough for a swim. They might also ensure that the lights or the A/C are turned off when not needed. These small adjustments can be made easily, thanks to a magnetic card each guest receives that allows them to manage their electrical use. Or they may opt not to request a change of sheets and towels when the ones they have are still fresh.

These may seem like small gestures, but they are a concrete way to express your love for nature and the joy that stems from a holiday that leaves you with a conscience as clean as the energy we use.

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