Il Pellicano

Porto Ercole, Tuscany, Italy

THE PERSONALITIES

Old-world romantics. Coastal dreamers. Cinema lovers. Artists at heart. Aperitivo chasers.

MOMENTS

Linen sheets, salt-kissed skin, and espresso by the sea. Bronze-skin afternoons on a sun lounger with a book you’re not really reading. Aperol spritz at golden hour. Long dinners on the terrace with grilled fish, wild herbs, and citrus cake. A quiet morning swim off the hotel’s private dock as the Argentario coastline wakes up. The luxury of being barefoot on stone stairs worn smooth by decades of sun-seekers.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

May to October. For soft spring air and fewer crowds, come early. For sun-drenched glamour and long, late dinners, arrive in peak summer. September brings warm seas and a slower rhythm.

COST

WHY STAY

Il Pellicano is a legend for a reason. It’s not just the cinematic setting or the sun-bleached glamour—it’s the way it makes you feel, as though you’ve stepped into a more elegant, slower world. Perched above the sea in Porto Ercole, it began in the 1960s as a love story between a dashing aviator and an elegant socialite, and has kept its heart intact ever since. Hidden in a cove above the Tyrrhenian Sea, this former love nest turned hotel has hosted the who’s who of fashion, film, and art for decades. But it wears its pedigree lightly. Here, luxury doesn’t shout—it moves with grace, carried on ocean breezes and served with fresh fig jam and espresso at breakfast.

The rooms, suites, and villas feel intimate and inviting, with terracotta floors, vintage rattan furniture, hand-tiled bathrooms, and views that stretch from olive groves to sea. Spend mornings lazing in your robe with a paperback and the sound of waves. Wander garden paths lined with rosemary and bougainvillea. Swim straight from the rocks or lounge under lemon-striped umbrellas. Every moment feels timeless—crafted, but never staged. This is Italian seaside living at its most effortless and evocative.

WHY WANDER

Porto Ercole is Tuscany’s best-kept coastal secret - a place where mountains plunge into turquoise bays and pine forests meet wild beaches. Base yourself at Il Pellicano, and the treasures of the Maremma region unfold in every direction. Charter a boat to discover hidden coves along the Argentario peninsula, stopping to swim in warm, crystalline waters. Explore the medieval streets of Capalbio or the dramatic cliffs of Talamone. Visit small, family-run vineyards producing Sangiovese wines and picnic in ancient olive groves with nothing but sun, cheese, and cicadas for company.

Nature here is raw and romantic, shaped by wind and salt and time. This is not a coast of umbrellas and boardwalks, but of jagged cliffs, secret trails, and sunsets that ignite the sky. Whether you're out wandering or simply watching the light shift across the sea from your terrace, Il Pellicano roots you deeply in place. Every hour invites a new adventure—or the delicious choice to do absolutely nothing at all.

INDULGE IN

Michelin-starred dining at Il Pellicano’s terrace restaurant. House-made pasta with local seafood. Afternoon spritzes on the sun deck. Classic Italian breakfasts with just-baked pastries and strong coffee.

GETTING THERE

Il Pellicano is about a two-hour drive from Rome or three hours from Florence. The journey winds through olive groves and vineyards until the Tyrrhenian Sea comes into view.

*Images property of Il Pellicano

WILD INITIATIVES

Il Dolce Far Bene is the hotel’s sustainability vision and commitment to preserving the unique beauty and traditions of our local areas for future generations. In every detail, Pellicano Hotels embodies a passion for Italian tradition and illuminates the wonder of the natural world that surrounds our hotels, providing guests with an unforgettable taste of Italy’s rich history and unrivalled culture.

Pellicano Hotels Group is committed to reducing its impact on the local environment, while promoting responsible practices in the region.  Wherever possible, the hotels will take steps to reduce energy consumption and emissions generated, responsibly manage water use, and continuously work to minimise waste production to protect the surrounding areas of natural beauty.

Marevivo partnership

Pellicano Hotels has partnered with biodiversity conservation NGO Marevivo, to support the protection and conservation of the local coastline. As well as participating in beach cleans, Pellicano Hotels will adopt three beaches, which will be protected and preserved by appointed employees at each hotel.

Reducing plastic waste

In our efforts to reduce single-use plastic waste across our hotels, we have:

• Provided Pellicano branded reusable water bottles to all staff to discourage the use of single-use plastic water bottles. These will also be available for guests to purchase at our boutique and on ISSIMO.

• Installed water dispensers throughout the hotels, where water bottles can be refilled.

• Removed all plastic straws across the Group, and now offer only paper straws.

• Introduced hand sanitiser dispensers in order to reduce the number of bottled hand sanitisers, while prioritising the health and safety of our guests.

Saving energy and emissions

As part of the Group’s efforts to reduce our climate impact, we have:

• Introduced electric cars and bike rental for our guests.

• Installed electric car charging stations at Hotel Il Pellicano and Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa in order to encourage smarter mobility.

• Fitted LED lighting throughout Hotel Il Pellicano to increase energy efficiency.

• Switched to 100% energy from renewable sources though the purchasing of guarantees of origin across our hotels and offices.

• Implemented a digital Towel & Linen Change procedure during check-in, by which guests are offered the option to choose how often they would like their towels and linen changed throughout their stay. Opting for less frequent towel and linen changes, such as every other day rather than daily, reduces water and energy use.

Conserving water

Low flow taps and water systems are being installed across the common areas of our Il Pellicano and Mezzatore Hotels to help conserve this precious resource.

A Meat Free Monday

Our chefs have designed an exciting new vegetarian menu to be served as part of our No Meat Monday initiative, which reduces the carbon impact associated with meat products, as well as taking steps to protect animal welfare.

Home grown vegetables

Guests at La Posta Vecchia can enjoy dishes prepared using delicious vegetables home grown in our own kitchen garden.

Conti di San Bonifacio

italy

THE PERSONALITIES

Romantics. Wine wanderers. Tuscan dreamers. Slow travelers. Countryside gourmands.

MOMENTS

Quiet mornings with espresso and rolling hills as your only company. Walking through rows of vines heavy with grapes. Golden sunsets over the vineyards. Firelit dinners with estate wines. Long afternoons by the infinity pool overlooking olive groves.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

April to June brings wildflowers and soft spring light, perfect for hiking and vineyard walks. September and October are harvest season, alive with grape picking, tastings, and festivals—a dream for wine lovers. Summer (July–August) is warm and vibrant, with long sunny days best spent between the pool and the vines. Winter is quieter, offering intimate fireside evenings and a slower rhythm of Tuscan living.

COST

WHY STAY

Conti di San Bonifacio is more than a wine resort—it’s an intimate Tuscan estate where life slows into the rhythm of the land. With just a handful of rooms, the stay feels deeply personal, almost like being welcomed into a private home. Interiors balance rustic elegance with understated luxury: stone fireplaces, wooden beams, and soft linens that mirror the estate’s natural surroundings. Each room opens to sweeping views of vineyards, olive groves, and hills rolling toward the horizon, offering a sense of seclusion and connection to the landscape.

The estate’s design is rooted in tradition but infused with contemporary touches. Terracotta floors and handcrafted details nod to the history of the Maremma region, while expansive terraces and the infinity pool frame vistas that change with the light. It’s a retreat made for savoring—whether lingering over a glass of wine at dusk, resting in sunlit courtyards, or spending long evenings under Tuscan skies where silence is broken only by cicadas.

WHY WANDER

The Maremma region of southern Tuscany is a land where sea, hills, and vineyards meet. Staying at Conti di San Bonifacio places you in the middle of it all—just a short drive from the wild Tyrrhenian coastline, where sandy beaches and Etruscan ruins sit side by side, and within reach of medieval hill towns like Massa Marittima and Montemassi. The area is lesser known than Chianti or Siena, which means quieter roads, fewer crowds, and a sense of discovery as you explore.

Beyond the immediate landscape, Tuscany offers endless adventures: cycling through vineyards, horseback riding among olive groves, truffle hunting in nearby forests, or simply following winding roads that reveal small villages with trattorias serving local wines and handmade pasta. To wander here is to experience Tuscany at its most authentic, where every outing—from a market visit to a coastal walk—feels stitched to the rhythms of land and tradition.

INDULGE IN

The soul of Conti di San Bonifacio is its wine. The estate produces organic, small-batch vintages from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Vermentino, each reflecting the mineral-rich soils and Mediterranean climate of the Maremma. Guests are invited to join cellar tours, guided tastings, and even help with the harvest when the season is right. Meals are paired seamlessly with the estate’s vintages, deepening the connection between land and table.

Dining is an intimate affair. The restaurant focuses on farm-to-table Tuscan cuisine, drawing from estate-grown olive oil, garden vegetables, and local producers. Think handmade pastas, fire-grilled meats, and cheeses from nearby farms—always paired with wines made just steps away. Every meal feels like a conversation between soil, vine, and kitchen, best savored slowly in candlelit dining rooms or al fresco terraces overlooking the vineyards.

GETTING THERE

Conti di San Bonifacio is in the Maremma region of southern Tuscany, about 90 minutes by car from Florence or Pisa, and just under two hours from Rome. The nearest train station is Grosseto, with transfers available to the resort. A car is recommended to explore the countryside, coastal villages, and hidden gems of the region.

WILD INITIATIVES

Sustainability is woven into the estate’s philosophy. The vineyards are farmed organically, the resort works with local artisans and producers to support the regional economy, and the small scale of the property ensures a low-impact, immersive experience. Guests are encouraged to participate in seasonal rhythms—harvest, olive picking, garden-to-table dining—making the stay not just about wine, but about living in tune with the land.

*Images property of Conti di Conti di San Bonifacio