Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Pour water over dry ingredients and stir until no dry spots remain. The dough will be very sticky, but just scrape down the sides as you stir.
First Rise (60 minutes): Cover the dough with a clean dish towel and leave it on the kitchen counter to rise until doubled in size, 60 minutes. (If your kitchen is on the colder side, let the dough rise for 75 minutes.)
When dough has nearly finished the initial rise, rub olive oil over the inside of a loaf pan (or spray it with nonstick cooking spray).
Gently pour the dough into the prepared loaf pan, using a spatula to help ease the dough out.
Heat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C.
Second Rise (20 minutes): Place loaf pan with dough near the oven and let it continue to rise, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
Bake bread (40 minutes): Bake bread until the top is golden brown and crisp, 40 to 45 minutes. (Use an instant read thermometer if you have one. The bread is done when it reaches 190°F / 88°C in the center.)
Allow bread to cool for 5 minutes in the loaf pan. Then, turn it out onto a rack to cool completely. (Note: Make sure to allow the bread cool completely before slicing - if it's still warm it may compress and can give it a gummy texture in the center.)
Slice and serve.