Spiritual retreat in North Sardinia: 5 special places between prayer and nature

Sardinia, a land with an ancient history made of ancestral cults, such as those that today still revive in the folk magic of Carnival or in the lighting of the bonfires of St. Anthony Abbot, courageous acts of faith and devotion such as those of St. Efisio, martyr of the Church with a strong cult in the island, and idyllic places immersed in the purity of nature, such as the majestic Mount Limbara, awaits you for an intimate and exciting journey in search of spirituality.

In particular the North, with its fascinating cities, picturesque villages, breathtaking seaside views and a wild and spectacular hinterland to explore, offers soul travelers more than one opportunity to find their safe haven on the journey and make intense spiritual experiences.

For 2026, we have selected 5 spiritual retreats perfect for fully cultivating your spirit and your faith, all within a journey that will accompany you in discovering the beauties of North Sardinia. Namasté!

Whether yours is a path of prayer and introspection, a search for touch with the divine through meditation in nature, or simply a need for escaping from the chaos of contemporary life, finding your spiritual retreat in Sardinia is the perfect solution to combine the journey of the soul, intimate and personal, with the earthly journey to discover an exceptional land.

The itinerary for a spiritual travel in North Sardinia that we propose you includes 5 stages, to explore and visit in absolute tranquility, places of faith and mysticism reachable by traveling on the road at your own pace (about 290 km x 5:30 h of travel, overall). The ideal starting point is Olbia, the happy city, well connected to the continent (traveling by ship or plane) and, given its name, the perfect place to start an important journey with a smile and lightheartedness.

So let's begin this extraordinary adventure: which will be the most suitable spiritual retreat for you in 2026? Let’s discover them together as we enjoy the journey through these 5 wonders of Sardinia!

- Luogosanto;


- Tempio Pausania / Monte Limbara;


- Burgos Forest;


- Monastery of San Pietro di Sorres;


- Monteleone Rocca Doria.

The first stage on our itinerary discovering the best locations for spiritual retreat in Sardinia is Luogosanto, in the heart of Gallura, just 45 minutes from Olbia following the roads SS125 and SP14. A little town whose name, literally a holy place, reflects its great historical significance, marked by acts of faith and sites full of mysterious charm.

In particular, Luogosanto is famous for being a land of hermitage and spiritual research, as evidenced by the numerous rural churches located among the hills near the village, isolated places where to pray and meditate with only the background of nature. Among the most important there are the Church of St. Leonard near the ruins of the Balaiana Castle, the ancient residence of the governors of Gallura, the Church of St. Stephen near the green-covered ruins of the fascinating Baldu Palace, as well as the hermitages of Saints Nicholas, Trano and Salvatore.

South of Luogosanto there’s also Liscia Lake, one of the largest in North Sardinia, a true oasis in touch with nature where seeking relaxation and inner peace even simply by taking pleasant walks, or why not, perhaps meditating in the shadow of wonderful thousand-year-old olive trees.

- Where: Luogosanto, Sassari province, Sardinia.

Let’s now move a few kilometers further south along road SS133, destination Tempio Pausania, a quiet village, rich in culture and with an old-fashioned atmosphere where to experience your spiritual retreat in Sardinia in the shadow of the imposing Mount Limbara, one of the most important peaks on the island. The mountain has always played a symbolic role in the religions, representing the perfect place that, due to its height and majesty, allows to get closer both spiritually and physically to the divine. 

An example is the Festa della Montagna (Mountain’s Festival), a typical celebration of Ferragosto, an invitation to rediscover the authenticity of the sardinian hinterland in an alternative way, just as the alternative proposal to celebrate these days of midsummer in the shadow of Mount Limbara and its sequoia forests. And considering the multicultural sacredness of the week around August 15 - the Assumption of Mary for Christians, Feriae Augusti for the ancient Romans, or even the Hachigatsu Bon in Japanese Buddhism - it’s clear how such a special location can become a point of international interest to fully enjoy every type of spirituality.

The strength of Limbara is above all its surprising landscape diversity, which includes hiking trails through the woods, peaceful corners where to stop and meditate by small waterfalls and wonderful views that extend up to the sea. Reaching the top there’s also the Church of Our Lady of Snows, a pleasant place of prayer and rest within most vivid nature.

- Where: Tempio Pausania / Monte Limbara, Sassari province, Sardinia.

The next stage represents a real journey towards the most genuine and wild heart of Sardinia, precisely the Goceano region, a border land between the provinces of Sassari, Nuoro and Oristano. Our road takes us more than 100 km south of Limbara, following the SS392, SS199 and SS218 bis roads up to our next destination: Burgos, a fairytale village dominated from the top of a cliff by an ancient castle and surrounded by enchanted forests.

In the peace and timeless charm of the village you could find the ideal place for your spiritual retreat in Sardinia, far from the frenzy of the city and immersed in a spectacular setting, dominated by the green of the woods and the brown of the mountains that draw the core of the island. And speaking of nature, the magical Burgos Forest is a real experience to join to make your spiritual journey special.

Located northwest of the village, the forest gives unique emotions. Exploring its paths, in fact you can see up close the fascinating and solemn ruins of ancient nuragic sites and villages - known as the Costa nuragic ghost town - absolute icons of a typically sardinian remote spiritual world made of domus de janas and tombs of giants. Hiking and meditating in the green purity of Burgos Forest, in the shadow of majestic mediterranean trees, you can also visit the picturesque Church of St. Salvatore and admire its impressive neo-medieval aesthetic.

- Where: Burgos Forest, Province of Sassari, Sardinia.

The fourth stage on our spiritual itinerary in Sardinia is the small region of Meilogu, in the province of Sassari, a territory characterized by a deep bond with faith as demonstrated by the presence of many places of worship that made the history of this part of the island. Among them stands out the Monastery of San Pietro di Sorres, in the municipality of Borutta, an ancient medieval church that today hosts a community of Benedictine monks.

A beautiful example of neo-Romanesque architecture in Northern Sardinia, the Monastery was the site of the 1334 battle between the Doria and the Aragonese—an event commemorated each year in the historical reenactment of the Bastida di Sorres festival, part of the Northern Sardinia Salude & Trigu events program.

After centuries of decline and abandonment, with the occurrence of Italian unification, the Monastery was object to recovery and restoration as a monument of national interest. An initiative of great value that culminated in the post-war period, between 1940s and 1950s, with a new restoration and above all with the expansion of its buildings and outer spaces to enable the foundation of a new thriving monastic community, engaged since 1970 in a booming book restoration activity on a national level.

For travelers seeking serenity and faith, the Monastery today represents a prominent place of pilgrimage, rest and hospitality, ready to welcome you to experience an intense spiritual retreat, according to the principles of ora et labora, immersed in a bucolic landscape made of silent calm, deep meditation and prayer.

- Where: Monastery of San Pietro di Sorres, Borutta, Province of Sassari, Sardinia

The final stop of the spiritual journey in Northern Sardinia is Monteleone Rocca Doria, reachable from the Monastery by following the signs to Thiesi and Lago del Temo: a place suspended in tranquility, so enchanting it seems surreal. This tiny hilltop village, one of the least populated on the island, feels like a hermitage ideal for those seeking silence, nature, and inner balance.

Monteleone Rocca Doria offers numerous hiking trails to explore Lago del Temo and the banks of the river of the same name, along with several viewpoints carved into the rock of the cliff on which the village stands.

Remote and panoramic locations alternate with challenging sports activities, such as rock climbing, to test both body and spirit. The village preserves the ruins of the Doria fortress and the picturesque Romanesque Church of Sant’Antonio Abate. Nearby are the hermitage of Santa Maria de s'Ispidale and the countryside Church of San Lussorio.

Less than an hour from Monteleone Rocca Doria, following the SS292, you can finally reach the stunning city of Alghero, a perfect stop before flying home from its airport.

A journey of faith, mysticism, meditation, and personal and spiritual growth: Northern Sardinia is all this and more, a magical and fascinating land, rich in history and folklore, where you can rediscover the purity and beauty of connecting with nature and the simplicity of life’s small things.

- Where: Monteleone Rocca Doria, Province of Sassari, Sardinia

2026 opens as the ideal year to indulge in a unique spiritual retreat in Sardinia. The 5 stops we’ve highlighted – Luogosanto, Tempio Pausania / Monte Limbara, Burgos Forest, Monastery of San Pietro di Sorres, and Monteleone Rocca Doria – remain unmissable destinations for those seeking inner peace, meditation in nature, and a deeper connection with their spirituality.

This year, more than ever, dedicating yourself to this journey means stepping away from the hectic pace of daily life and embracing moments of silence and introspection. North Sardinia, with its breathtaking landscapes, romantic villages, and sacred sites nestled in greenery, provides the perfect setting for authentic and profound experiences.

Prepare to explore these itineraries at your own pace, letting yourself be guided by emotions and the desire to rediscover yourself: 2026 is the perfect year to make this journey an unforgettable experience.