At Forte dei Marmi, just steps from the sea, Pensione America has just reopened. It’s one of the first villas built on the Versilia coast, when it was at the beginning of its success as a summer vacation destination for well-to-do Tuscan families. After a meticulous restoration by architect Piera Tempesti Benelli, the residence — built in 1899 and transformed into a guesthouse in 1922 — returns as a five-star adults only (13 years and older) property, member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

The atmosphere is reminiscent of bygone days, with wisteria, lemon trees, and palms framing the 18 rooms and suites, each with a terrace or veranda. The details speak Italian: Sicilian majolica by Nicolò Giuliano, wallpapers by Elena Carozzi, custom bamboo furniture, Santa Maria Novella products, and uniforms designed by Loretta Caponi, a historic address for embroidered linens. Nothing is left to chance, and everything tells the story of an artisanal country, where each object has a history, each material a connection to its territory of origin.

In the garden, the iconic green checkered ceramic and marble pool overlooks the historic tennis club, among the very first in Forte, when sports became fashionable.

Pensione America is part of the Em Collection of the Maestrelli family, already custodians of the beloved Villa Roma Imperiale and Violino D’Oro which opened in Venice in December 2023. Another chapter in the history of signature tourism that exudes beauty, memory, and vacationing with a straw hat