Step Into Bali’s Living Heritage

Words Vidula KotianDate 19 November 2025

Opening this November in Umalas, Magia de Uma—our newest outpost in Bali—is a celebration of what the island once was and what it still can be. 

Tucked between rice fields and the sea, just minutes from Canggu’s creative energy, the retreat offers a rare balance of serenity and connection, inviting you to experience Bali at a slower, more soulful pace.

Born from the collaboration between Jacopo Sertoli and his longtime friend Gabriele Salini, founder of GS Collection, Magia de Uma—once a private family home—has been lovingly reimagined as a sanctuary where history and hospitality intertwine. Many of its bungalows are built around antique joglo structures—traditional Javanese wooden houses with soaring, intricately carved roofs once reserved for nobility. These 150-year-old architectural treasures were carefully relocated, restored, and woven into a design language rooted in memory yet alive with modern ease: stone, wood, and handmade tiles whispering stories of time and place.

Adding depth to the narrative, Jacopo reinterpreted the colonial influences that once shaped Bali’s architectural identity. In the main building—home to several guest rooms—lofty ceilings, exposed iron structures, and vintage details are balanced by clean lines and contemporary restraint, creating a dialogue between eras.

Preservation here is not aesthetic alone—it’s a way of life. The 3,000-square-meter garden retains its rice fields and towering trees, while the cuisine honors local tradition with ingredients sourced from the estate and nearby markets. Meals unfold around communal tables, echoing Bali’s timeless spirit of sharing, storytelling, and togetherness.

At Magia de Uma, time doesn’t stop—it lingers. Every detail speaks of care, continuity, and the quiet beauty of things made to last.