Songs of Sardegna
Songwriting Retreat in Sardinia, Italy
May 26-June 1, 2026
All songs happen somewhere.
Come write yours in Bosa, a stunning seaside village on the western coast of Sardinia, where the freshwater Temo River meets the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Nestled among pastel-colored houses and cobblestone streets, Bosa is home to a centuries-old tradition of cantu a cuncordu—Sardinia’s haunting and powerful form of polyphonic singing. This retreat invites you into deep cultural immersion through daily songwriting, shared meals rooted in local ingredients, and rich encounters with Sardinian musical heritage in a town renowned for its voice.
Dates & Location
A transformative, week‑long songwriting & yoga retreat in Bosa—the only town in Sardinia where fresh river water meets the Tyrrhenian Sea. Accommodations are at the charming Albergo Diffuso nestled in the heart of the village.
Daily Rhythm
Morning Yoga tailored to singers, musicians, and performers—trauma-informed and responsive to participants’ physical needs.
Songwriting Sessions: daily creative prompts, one-on-one mentoring, and rotating co-writing partnerships with facilitators and peers, including our Sardinian Songwriter‑in‑Residence, Gianfranco Cossu—expect to leave with up to five new co-written songs.
Cantu a Cuncordu Workshop: immerse yourself in Sardinian polyphonic harmony led by Luigi “Gigi” Oliva.
Evening Song Circles & Final Piazza Performance: share your songs under the stars in the village square—open to fellow participants, mentors, and local residents.
Special Experience Add-On
Guided Hike to the Sea: early‑morning walk along the riverbank, ending with a moment of song and reflection by the sea’s edge.
Cultural & Culinary Immersion
Enjoy daily catered lunches featuring traditional Sardinian cuisine—the main meal of the day.
Stroll to nearby gem-like cafés, the pizzeria, bakery, bar, and vibrant morning produce market—all just steps from your lodging.
Engage with village life at your comfort level: attending a local festival, the daily market, a Catholic mass, or piazza events—all with respect for Sardinian customs and laws.
Who It’s For
Songwriters at any stage—and poets, fiction writers, or spoken-word artists ready to explore songwriting with encouragement and guidance. Past participants have come from Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Mexico, continental Italy, the U.S., Acoma Pueblo, and across Sardinia.
Languages
Primary instruction is in Italian—with full English translation—making it ideal even if you’re at the beginning of your Italian language journey.
Included
6 nights in a single room at the Albergo Diffuso
Daily breakfast & catered lunches
Full instruction: songwriting, polyphonic singing, and performer-centered yoga
Limited to 10 participants.
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Traditional Sardinian Singing workshop with Luigi 'Gigi' Oliva (of the singing group 'Coro di Bosa')
An evening with the singing group, Coro di Bosa
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7:00-8:00 a.m.: breakfast at retreat facility, Sas Benas
8:00-9:00: morning yoga for singers and musicians with Christy Cook
10:00-11:00: morning song circle/song prompts/cowriting partners assigned with Kristina Jacobsen
11:00-1:00: cowriting with your assigned cowriting partner
1:00-2:00: group lunch at Bellavista Ristorante
2:00-6:00: naps, cowriting, wandering the village; private voice lessons with Bo Shimmin
6:00-7:00: nightly song circle and song feedback, Gianfranco Cossu & Kristina Jacobsen
7:00-9:00: dinner at Sas Benas or in the village
6:00-7:00: nightly songsharing and song circle
7:00-9:00: dinner
8:00-9:00: optional jam sessions with Bo Shimmin at different locations in the village
9:00: bedtime
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Located off the west coast of Italy on the island known as Sardinia, Nestled along the wild, turquoise coast of western Sardinia, Bosa is a historic town where cobblestone streets echo with the sounds of traditional polyphonic singing and the rhythms of the Sardinian language. A hub for cultural preservation and musical expression, Bosa offers an inspiring setting for immersive songwriting, vocal exploration, and linguistic connection. Here, song and speech flow together—rooted in centuries-old traditions and carried on the sea breeze.
Sardinia, an island occupied by Visigoths and later Moors, Spaniards and eventually the Kingdom of Italy, of which it is now formally a province, is an amazing cultural amalgamation of Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and Indigenous Sardinian culture. This is seen, heard and tasted in the cuisine, in the many languages spoken on the island (Sardinian has four main variants, each of which are not mutually intelligible), and in the various and rich musical traditions that are esteemed and celebrated by many Sardinians (Sardi). This includes a style of cappella singing for which Santu Lussurgiu is especially known, called cantu a cuncordu (“singing together”), a genre of a four-part cappella singing, recently recognized by UNESCO as a form of Intangible World heritage and recorded and studied by ethnomusicologists around the world. Bosa boasts many singing groups, many of whom tour and perform internationally, instrumentalists (the accordion is the primary accompanying instrument), and lovers of music.
Who’s it for?
Musicians, songwriters, poets, creative writers and yogis.
We seek participants who are willing to immerse themselves in culturally immersive, creative collaboration and who will show up fully in our communities of practice.
We welcome LGBTQ+, veterans, and members of all socially marginalized groups to our retreats. We strive to create a community of care at each retreat in a welcoming, safe and artistically nurturing environment for all participants.
How to apply:
To be considered for the retreat, please schedule an interview with our facilitator, Kristina Jacobsen:
Basic Italian or Spanish language skills are a plus to deepen your own experience in Sardinia, but certainly not required for workshop participation. Following acceptance into the workshop, all participants will be asked to sign an international waiver of liability form. Any additional questions and queries are always welcome.
Cost:
$2000 (inclusive of breakfast, lunch, dinner, lodging, & all instruction)
Deposit deadline: 10/01/2025 ($500; nonrefundable) or total of $1900 (save $100) if paid in full via paypal by deposit deadline to hold your place.
Remainder ($1500) due 03/01/2026.
Sardinian citizens attend at the discounted rate of EU 650 (inclusive of dinner, lodging, & all instruction).
Please see recommended arrival/departure times, below.
Interest-free Payment Plans are available; please inquire.
All accommodations are single rooms. If you are flying internationally, it is recommended that you fly into Alghero or Cagliari; please plan to arrive a day early to Cágliari and leave a day after the retreat ends.
Arrival/departure times:
Arrival: 3:00 pm, 05/26, Bosa
Departure: 10:00 am, 6/01, Bosa
For more details on retreat policies and refunds, please click here.
Participants say…
“You should know that there will be a very expert and empathetic person welcoming us, who does not leave out any technical detail and who gives free space to creativity.”
“This retreat will change your life. You will be challenged, you will be tired, you will be artistically fulfilled and it will be worth EVERY SECOND!”
“I’m so glad I made the journey from the U.S. to the Sing Me Back Home Sardinia Retreat. It is a wonderful experience for those who dare to travel to another country and connect with the international music community in a wholistic and profound way.”
“The vision of the retreat is an ambitious project of creating an international community around co-written songs. It is intense, but worth the vulnerability and time because, for me, it makes a more connected world.”
“Kristina è una grande organizzatrice e sa essere costante e professionale in tutti i passaggi della giornate e delle giornate. Gianfranco ha dimostrato grande capacità di ascolto e spiegazione di tutte le proposte di scritture. Entrambi hanno saputo mantenere un livello alto di ogni giornata