Meet Pellicano Hotels: The Italian Hotel Brand at the Top of My List

There are certain hotels I come across that immediately make their way onto my list. And then there are entire hotel brands that make me want to plan a trip around them.

Pellicano Hotels is one of those brands.

If you’ve never heard of Pellicano Hotels, allow me to introduce you to one of the hotel groups currently sitting at the very top of my Italy bucket list. The collection includes three iconic Italian properties: Hotel Il Pellicano in Tuscany, La Posta Vecchia outside Rome, and Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa on the island of Ischia, with more on the way.

Each hotel has a completely different personality, but they’re all tied together by the same effortless, timeless Italian style. Nothing feels too polished or overly “luxury.” Instead, it’s colorful, relaxed, full of history, and somehow incredibly chic without trying too hard. Which, in my opinion, is exactly what you want from a trip to Italy!

Why Pellicano Hotels Have Been Catching My Eye

I have to start with the branding because Pellicano does it SO well.

The websites. The photography. The striped beach towels. The typography. The interiors. Even the way they talk about their hotels makes you want to immediately book a flight to Italy.

But good branding can only take you so far. What really interests me about Pellicano Hotels is that the properties themselves seem to deliver on it.

The brand describes its approach through the Italian idea of sprezzatura - essentially an effortless, casual elegance -and that feels like the perfect way to sum it up. These aren't hotels where luxury means everything is shiny, new, and formal. They're places with history and personality, designed to feel like they belong exactly where they are.

And while I haven't personally stayed at these properties yet, they’re certainly at the top of my list, and here’s where I’d start:

Hotel Il Pellicano: The Mediterranean Hideaway

If you told me I could only choose one Pellicano property to visit tomorrow, this would likely be the one.

Hotel Il Pellicano sits in Porto Ercole on Monte Argentario, along the Tuscan coast. Rather than being surrounded by the crowds you might associate with some of Italy's better-known coastal destinations, the hotel spills down the hillside into its own private cove overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.

And wow, the imagery makes it look like exactly what Pellicano calls it: a Mediterranean hideaway.

This is the kind of place where I feel like my hair would never fully dry because swimming would become an all-day affair. Breakfast turns into the beach. The beach turns into a late lunch. Lunch somehow turns into an aperitivo. And suddenly you've spent an entire day doing basically nothing, which is the whole point.

The Beach Club has a private terraced beach reached by elevator, a heated seawater pool, loungers overlooking the water, and direct access to snorkeling, paddleboarding and other water activities from the private pier.

Food is also a major part of the experience. There’s the Michelin-starred Ristorante Il Pellicano, led by Chef Michelino Gioia, plus the more relaxed Pelligrill for fresh fish, homemade pasta and long lunches overlooking the sea.

Quiet, slow, simple, yet plenty to do.

It also has history. Il Pellicano was created in the 1960s after Michael Graham and Patsy Daszel fell in love with this little pocket of the Tuscan coast and decided to create a retreat for fellow Italy lovers. The hotel celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025, and over the decades its pool and seaside setting have been photographed by the likes of Slim Aarons.

If you've already experienced the Amalfi Coast and want a different kind of Italian coastal trip, I would absolutely have this one on your radar.

La Posta Vecchia: History, But Make It a Vacation

Next up is probably the Pellicano property I find the most interesting.

La Posta Vecchia Hotel sits along the coast of Palo Laziale, about 40 minutes outside Rome. And if Il Pellicano is all about Mediterranean ease, La Posta Vecchia is its much more historic, Renaissance-loving sister.

The property dates to the 1600s, but its story goes back even further. Ancient Roman ruins were discovered underneath the villa during restoration work, and today guests can actually visit the property's archaeological museum.

Then there's the J. Paul Getty chapter.

Getty purchased the property in the 1960s and restored it as his Roman hideaway, filling the villa with Italian art, antiques and treasures. Many of those pieces remain part of the experience today, so staying here feels less like checking into a traditional hotel and more like being invited into an incredible private Italian home that happens to have centuries of stories behind it.

There are just 21 rooms and suites, which makes the entire experience feel even more intimate.

And location-wise, I LOVE the possibilities here.

Because you're so close to Rome, La Posta Vecchia could be an amazing way to begin or end a larger Italian itinerary. Spend several busy days exploring Rome, then head to the coast and slow things way down before flying home.

History, beautiful food, the sea, Italian art, and an actual Roman archaeological site underneath your hotel?

I truly think this would be one of the most unique ways to experience Italy.

Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa:

An Island Escape in Ischia

And then we have Ischia!

Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa sits on the northwest side of the island on a rocky promontory above its own private bay. The hotel is surrounded by Mediterranean landscape, with views across the Gulf of Naples and the towns of Lacco Ameno and Forio nearby.

The centerpiece of the property is its historic watchtower, originally built between the 16th and 17th centuries. The tower was actually never completed, which is where the name Mezzatorre, or “half tower,” comes from. The Sciò family discovered the property in 2018, and Pellicano Hotels took over its management the following year.

This one feels like the wellness-minded sister of the group.

Ischia is famous for its thermal waters, and Mezzatorre leans into that with its thermal spa and wellness experiences. Add in the private cove, beautiful pool, seafood, wine, boat trips, and the fact that you're on an Italian island, and I don't think I'd need much convincing.

For travelers who have already done Capri or simply want an island experience that feels a little different, Ischia is one I would keep on your list.

And Pellicano Hotels Is Growing

The other reason I think this is a hotel brand worth knowing now? They're expanding.

Pellicano currently has new properties planned in Tuscany and Umbria, including La Suvera, a retreat in the Tuscan hills, and La Badia, an ancient abbey being reimagined in the Umbrian countryside. Both are slated to join the collection in 2027.

What I like about the expansion is that it doesn't appear to be about putting a Pellicano Hotel everywhere. The brand describes its growth as being about “depth” rather than scale, choosing historic properties and destinations that can retain a strong sense of place.

That's exactly what makes me excited to see what comes next.

Which Pellicano Hotel Should You Choose?

This is where it gets fun because I don't think there's one right answer.

Choose Hotel Il Pellicano if your perfect Italian vacation involves long days by the sea, a beautiful beach club, incredible food, and that classic Italian summer feeling.

Choose La Posta Vecchia if you love history, art, beautiful interiors and the idea of pairing Rome with a few slower days on the coast.

Choose Mezzatorre if you want an island escape with thermal wellness, swimming, boating and plenty of time outside.

Or, and hear me out, we build an itinerary that includes more than one (or all three)!

Because that's the real appeal of Pellicano Hotels to me. The properties don't feel copy-and-pasted from one destination to another. You could stay at multiple hotels within the collection and have a completely different experience at each one.

Pellicano Hotels Are Officially on My Italy List

Italy certainly isn't lacking in incredible luxury hotels, but Pellicano Hotels has managed to create something that feels very specific.

The design is beautiful, but you get the sense that you're actually supposed to kick off your shoes, jump in the water, order another plate of pasta and enjoy it.

If Italy is on your list for 2027 and you want a trip that goes beyond the usual stops, let's chat! Whether it's a few days at Il Pellicano after exploring Tuscany, a stay at La Posta Vecchia paired with Rome, an island escape to Mezzatorre, or a larger itinerary connecting several destinations, I can help you figure out which experience makes the most sense for you.

I’d love for you to submit an inquiry on my contact page!