Serenity reigns at Porto Ercole’s La Roqqa hotel
Studio Palomba Serafini has designed La Roqqa, a new hotel in Italy’s Porto Ercole, with retro nods, Tuscan flair and contemporary luxury
![LA ROQQA](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DrjSU5Jr22DzTrPFfNQun6-415-80.jpg)
The Porto Ercole hotel formerly known as Don Pedro – in which guise it was the destination for locals celebrating birthdays, weddings and other life milestones – is now owned by a Swedish company, coincidentally named Erqole, and has been reborn as La Roqqa, a stylish five-star named after the nearby ancient fort, Rocca Spagnola.
La Roqqa, Porto Ercole, by Studio Palomba Serafini
Architects and designers Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba of the Milan-based studio Palomba Serafini have brought their luxurious touch to the property and blended it with Tuscan elements and retro nods to the 1960s dolce vita. As the façade was protected, the duo refreshed it with one of the permitted paint colours, choosing the shade closest to that found on old Tuscan houses.
In the lobby, the original 1980s design details were replaced with a central staircase that acts as a decorative sculpture, as well as a practical addition. The low arches add another characteristic detail of local Tuscan homes and split the open-plan space into a small ceramics store and two lounges accessorised with design icons such as ‘Arco’ and ‘Toio’ floor lamps from Flos, a ‘Utrecht’ armchair by Cassina, and the standout piece, Gaetano Pesce’s bright red ‘Up’ armchair.
To bring a softness to the project, curved walls and more arches were added to the neutral hallways that link the 55 guest rooms and suites, where Serafini and Palomba’s pared-back luxury comes into its own. Bare walls are painted in lime plaster using the complex ‘nuvolatura’ technique and in one of three colours inspired by the earthy blue water, green forest and terracotta buildings surrounding the hotel.
For the flooring, the studio sourced a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional terrazzo from Italian tile expert Mipa, which continues into the bathrooms along with the colour theme.
Furnishings are kept to a minimum – think a custom-made desk and small bedside table – and are crafted in wood to add warmth. In the suites, there’s space to be slightly more decorative, yet the same design codes apply, with neutral tones and a preference for clean lines and tactile materials, such as textile sofas and marble and wood furnishings.
Up on the mezzanine terrace and rooftop restaurant, 1960s-inspired geometric tiled tables custom-made by Vietri Scotto continue the vintage vibes and complement the blue and terracotta outdoor furnishings, while further away from the hotel, guests will be able to lounge at the equally stylish Isolotto Beach Club, situated on the only sandy beach on the peninsula.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
La Roqqa is located at Via Panoramica, 7, Porto Ercole, laroqqa.com
Originally from Leeds, Nicola Leigh Stewart lived in London and Madrid before moving to Paris, where she writes about travel and food for the likes of Conde Nast Traveler, The Telegraph, The Times, Design Anthology UK, and Robb Report. She has also co-authored Lonely Planet guidebooks on Paris and France and teaches travel writing at the American University of Paris.
-
Tour the new Four Seasons Osaka, where time stands still
Set within a 49-storey tower, Four Seasons Osaka takes the traditional ryokan experience to new heights
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
How guest editor Marcio Kogan, during a visit to the movies, ‘discovered that something else exists in the world, real poetry’
Marcio Kogan is a guest editor of Wallpaper* October 2024. In his dedicated section, we discover how the world of cinema’s loss was architecture’s gain when a feature film failed but a dream space creator rose from the ashes
By Rainbow Nelson Published
-
Discover Tempe à Pailla, a lesser-known Eileen Gray gem nestled in the French Riviera
Tempe à Pailla is a modernist villa in the French Riviera brimming with history, originally designed by architect Eileen Gray and extended by late British painter Graham Sutherland
By Tianna Williams Published
-
2,734 metres above the sea, a northern Italian hotel ensures peak happiness
Designed by Senoner Tammerle Architekten, hotel Santnerpass Hütte offers the perfect off-grid retreat amid a Unesco-protected landscape
By John Weich Published
-
Retreat to Lecce’s reborn Palazzo Zimara, a baroque gem from 1557
Architect Raffaele Centonze transforms the 16th-century Palazzo Zimara into an 18-room boutique hotel in the historic city centre
By Andrew Wasserstein Published
-
Experience Cardo Roma, the contemporary Roman holiday you didn’t know you needed
Cardo Roma, the inaugural property of Cardo Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection, caters to those seeking to merge business and pleasure
By Tianna Williams Published
-
La Pergola, one of Rome’s most coveted reservations, gets a sumptuous renovation
Jouin Manku re-envisions La Pergola, the acclaimed restaurant atop Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
By Hannah Walhout Published
-
Surrender to these six swim-perfect outdoor hotel pools
Discover the best outdoor hotel pools, from Amankila’s aquatic triptych by Ed Tuttle to Nicolas Party’s swimmable artwork at Le Sirenuse
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
New hotel Palazzo Cordusio is a tribute to Milan’s enduring panache
Palazzo Cordusio, Gran Meliá’s Milan hotel debut, is set within a neo-classical icon moments from some of the city’s best-known landmarks
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Contraste restaurant in Milan is a beautiful cacophony of colour, form and texture
Michelin-starred Contraste restaurant reopens its doors following a vibrant renovation by Debonademeo
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Dive into Nicolas Party’s otherworldly art at Le Sirenuse swimming pool in Positano
Le Sirenuse unveils its latest site-specific commission, a breathtaking swimming pool completely reimaged by figurative artist Nicolas Party
By Sofia de la Cruz Published