Hotel Il Pellicano

Why book?

You know those summer moments that are like something out of a Slim Aarons photograph that everyone tries to imitate on social media? The jet-set photographer was a regular at Il Pellicano and his iconic photos from this destination in Tuscany helped to create our vision of an Italian holiday with beautiful people in bikinis relaxing in the idyllic isolation of Monte Argentario. Around the stone swimming pool, at the beach club with the white umbrellas lined up in front of the sea and at the bar and on the rooms’ terraces, the hotel had the atmosphere of a private club. As the owner, Roberto Sciò, explains in the book Hotel Il Pellicano (Rizzoli, 2011): “Here, everyone becomes beautiful!”

Set the scene

Born in 1965, Il Pellicano has just turned 60. It continues to reflect a certain vision of the quintessential Italian holiday: relaxed, elegant, timeless. In the guest rooms and in the convivial ambience among the fragrant rosemary bushes, one feels a continuity with the past while being perfectly in tune with the present.

The backstory

Il Pellicano begins with a love story, that of Michael Graham, a Royal Air Force aviator, and Patsy Daszel, an American socialite, who met in the mid-1950s at a party in Pelican Point, California. After travelling the world, they arrived on Monte Argentario and, in front of that cliff overlooking the sea, they rediscovered the excitement of their first meeting. Here, in 1965, they opened Il Pellicano as a refuge for friends. It became a place for candlelit conversations and days by the sea, embracing the spirit of summers by the Mediterranean. In just a few years, it became the destination of celebrated artists and other cultural luminaries: Charlie Chaplin, Henry Fonda, Gianni Agnelli, Emilio Pucci and the investor and entrepreneur Roberto Sciò, who bought it from the Grahams in 1979, pledging to maintain the cosy, family atmosphere that made the property unique. Helping him for 25 years was his daughter Marie-Louise, who is now CEO and creative director of the Pellicano Hotels group, which also includes the Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa on the island of Ischia, La Posta Vecchia near Rome, and two new additions scheduled to open in 2027: La Suvera, half an hour from Siena, and La Badia in the hills of Umbria.

The rooms

Il Pellicano’s 50 rooms are divided between the hotel’s main building and seven terracotta-coloured cottages scattered on the promontory. Although the style is simple and timeless, in all of them there is the sophisticated and contemporary touch of Marie-Louise, who, with her team, is always keeping the rooms up to date by changing the fabrics, handmade carpets and ceramics. Terraces are fringed with bougainvillaea, and the balconies and windows look out onto unspoilt nature, gardens designed by Paolo Pejrone and the open sea.

Food and drink

Chef Michelino Gioia quietly defends his Michelin star with his refined cuisine, highlighting local ingredients. You can sample lobster, prawns and Chianina meat both in gourmet versions in the evenings and in the traditional version at Pelligrill, located on a magnificent veranda overlooking the sea. And then there is Federico Morosi, the barman who has been with the Sciò family for years. His bar has intoxicating ocean views, and with his long experience mixing perfect cocktails, he always prepares the right drink at the right moment with his signature touches (every guest should try a Pellicano Martini).

The spa

The Pelliclub is a spa with a traditional menu of services: hairdressing, manicures and pedicures. There is also a steam room to relax in before or after treatments, as well as a fully equipped gym and a tennis court surrounded by cypress trees.

The neighbourhood

Perched on a lush promontory, Il Pellicano has an ideal location: It’s easy to reach (less than two hours from Rome), and it’s a good starting point for a tour of the medieval villages, small wineries and archaeological sites of the Maremma in Tuscany. For a walk on the slopes of Monte Argentario, you can begin at the hotel, while Porto Ercole, Porto Santo Stefano and the Orbetello lagoon are just a few minutes’ drive away.

The service

“This is not a perfect place, but it is a bit magical,” says Marie-Louise Sciò. “We are not in Capri or Positano; there are no designer boutiques. Those who come here choose it precisely for this very reason.” However, they have improved on the magic, adding all the services of a five-star hotel with a fresh design, artisanal touches, a Michelin-starred restaurant and the new Morgan 44 boat that makes it possible to explore bays and grottos that would otherwise be inaccessible. The boutique is a treat, with clothes, jewellery and other items chosen to represent the best of the Italian lifestyle.

For families

There are no specific programmes for children, but they, like their parents, can enjoy a perfect seaside holiday, immersed in nature and far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Sustainability

Being custodians of the land that surrounds it is in the DNA of Il Pellicano. The very style of holiday it offers to guests – a combination of the sea, opportunities to relax, good food and natural beauty – is an invitation to appreciate all that the region offers. The hotel collaborates with the NGO Marevivo to protect the coast, and the Pellicano Group has adopted three beaches that they are committed to actively preserving. The hotel has also adopted measures to minimise the use of plastic, installed low-flow water fixtures, uses 100 per cent renewable energy and, on the property, the staff travel in electric golf carts. In the kitchen, as well as using vegetables grown in the garden or nearby, the hotel has adopted Meat Free Monday to encourage guests to order vegetarian meals at least once a week.

Accessibility

The hotel has accessible areas for those who need them. The beach club can be reached by lift.

Anything else?

There’s a memorable moment every day that no guest should miss. As the sun sets at the golden hour, take a seat in the Mediterranean garden that slopes down to the sea, and sip a Teller Negroni as you reflect on the hotel's recent history. After Slim Aarons documented an earlier jet set in bikinis, relaxing at Il Pellicano, photographer Juergen Teller has given us an updated image of Italian luxury by the seaside for a new generation of travellers.