Songs of Sardegna
Songwriting Retreat in Sardinia, Italy
June 25-July 1, 2027
All songs happen somewhere.
Come write yours in Santu Lussurgiu, a stunning mountain village on southwestern Sardinia. Nestled among stone houses and cobblestone streets, Santu Lussurgiu 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 ‘slow food’ and 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 Santu Lussurgiu. Accommodations are at the charming Albergo Diffuso (bed and breakfast) Il Gruccione 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 four 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 ‘cascate’ (the waterfalls): early‑morning walk along the riverbank, ending with a moment of song and reflection by the pools.
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 Australia, 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, lunch and dinner
Full instruction: songwriting, polyphonic singing, and performer-centered yoga
Limited to 14 participants.
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Traditional Sardinian Singing workshop with Luigi 'Gigi' Oliva (of the singing group 'Coro di Bosa')
Final Concert in the medieval courtyard of ‘Il Gruccione’
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7:00-8:00 a.m.: breakfast at retreat facility
8:00-9:00: morning yoga for singers and musicians
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: catered lunch together
2:00-6:00: naps, cowriting, wandering the village
6:00-7:00: nightly songsharing and song circle
7:30-8:30: dinner
8:00-9:00: optional jam sessions at different locations in the village
9:00: bedtime
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Here's a parallel version that matches the tone and style of your Camino and Bosa descriptions:
Santu Lussurgiu, Sardinia is a mountain village in the Montiferru region known for its rich singing traditions, artisan cheesemaking, and deep-rooted equestrian culture. Surrounded by oak forests and volcanic landscapes, the village is famous for its abundant natural springs, whose exceptionally pure drinking water has sustained the community for centuries. Daily life is still marked by local bakeries producing the village's distinctive pane lôngu (long bread), handcrafted cheeses, and a vibrant musical heritage that includes both sacred and secular multipart singing. Throughout the retreat, participants will engage with local musicians, food traditions, and community members, discovering how song, landscape, and everyday practices continue to shape cultural life in this remarkable corner of Sardinia.
Who’s it for?
Singers, songwriters, composers, 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 register for the retreat, please schedule an interview with our facilitator, Kristina Jacobsen:
Basic Italian 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 USD (inclusive of breakfast, dinner, lodging, & all instruction)
Deposit deadline: 10/01/2026 ($500; nonrefundable) or total of $1900 (save $100) if paid in full via paypal by deposit deadline to hold your place.
Remainder ($1500 USD) due 02/01/2026.
Sardinian citizens attend at the discounted rate of EU 650 (inclusive of lunch, 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 Cagliari; please plan to arrive a day early to Cágliari and leave a day after the retreat ends.
Arrival/departure times:
Arrival: 2:00 pm, 06/25, Santu Lussurgiu
Departure: 10:00 am, 7/01, Santu Lussurgiu
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