Founded by the Phoenicians around 770 BC under the name of Solki, the island where Villa Rose stands carries three thousand years of history.
Villa Rose stands on the island of Sant'Antioco, whose main town, Sant'Antioco, is often described as the oldest town in Italy. The Phoenicians founded it around 770 BC under the name of Solki, before Rome itself was founded.
The island is linked to Sardinia by an isthmus, so you arrive by car almost without noticing. In the town of Sant'Antioco, you can visit the basilica of Byzantine origin and its catacombs, the Punic necropolis, the tophet, and the Ferruccio Barreca archaeological museum, which tells the story of Solki.
Calasetta, the Tabarkin town
At the other end of the island, Calasetta tells a more recent but equally singular story. Its alleys with blue-and-white facades were laid out by families who came from Tabarka, on the Tunisian coast, in the eighteenth century. Tabarkin, a Ligurian dialect, is still spoken there, and the local cuisine keeps that taste of travel.
This is where Stéphanie, the owner of Villa Rose, grew up: school in Sant'Antioco, summers in Calasetta. Her story is on our hosts page.
What to see, and how to plan your day
Allow a day for the town of Sant'Antioco and its archaeological sites, half a day to wander Calasetta between the port, the Savoyard tower and the markets, and keep an evening for a sunset at Le Saline, a stone's throw from the villa. From the port of Calasetta, the Delcomar ferry reaches Carloforte, on San Pietro island, in about thirty minutes.
To plan your visit, the regional tourism board has detailed pages on Sant'Antioco and the Sulcis, and on arrival the Villa Rose team will share its current favourite addresses.
