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Visiting Villa Roma Imperiale in Forte dei Marmi you are immediately enveloped by a feeling of peace, quiet and ultimate privacy. As you set foot through the main entrance door nothing would make you think of a hotel lobby, rather, you soon realize that you have entered an elegant home where you are greeted like friends of the family. The décor is tasteful and luxurious but never excessive, every detail has been thought of including rooms with furniture reminiscent of a refined beach house, private terraces and balconies overlooking the manicured gardens, travertine bathrooms, and a collection of books selected by the owners and guests from all over the world. 

The guests themselves, habitué who have returned annually for what seems to be decades, exude a feeling of being in a place where they can relax undisturbed – somewhere you can escape to in a town that stays up late into the night. This was the owner’s intent when, after acquiring the low-built villa in 1992, they decided to make Villa Roma Imperiale into a Hotel that would feel like an extension of their own summer house in Forte dei Marmi; here they could share their idea of the authentic Versilia lifestyle. 

Versilia is one of the most iconic beach locations in Tuscany, from many years a place where Florentine and Milanese families alike spend their summers. It is not surprising that it boasts one of the most vivid culinary scenes Italy has to offer. Nestled between mountains and the Tyrrhenian sea, it is also less than an hour away from Cinque Terre on one side, Lucca and Pisa on the other, offering an incredible variety of places to visit. 

At Villa Roma Imperiale experiences are organized and suggested based on each guest’s personal desires by a staff that has been lauded for their thoughtfulness: attentive but not intrusive as to maintain the desired privacy. Take a boat ride to Cinque Terre, visit the marble quarries where Michelangelo chose what would eventually become the David, ride the hotel’s bicycles (a necessary mode of transportation in Forte Dei Marmi) to a local boutique or Sunday market, or simply spend the day barefoot on the sandy beaches your host will suggest the best “Bagno” beach club for you, hardly anything is out of reach.

The Villa’s intentionally limited kitchen is the perfect excuse to serve an authentically simple menu and allow for low-key delights such as a poolside panino for lunch, breakfast al fresco in the renewed garden patio where you will be spoiled for choice or a selection of Villa Roma’s own teas. 

A unique location for those who are looking for understated luxury, extraordinary service, and the privacy that only a home can provide. A place where you will be able to experience the kind of lifestyle that has made Versilia into one of the most glamorous destinations of the Tuscan coast, hosted by a family that holds the values of hospitality to their highest standards. 

A few segreti (secrets) from the Maestrelli family: 

Trek on the Apuane mountains with lunch at Rifugio Del Freo 

Have a focaccia with peas or arselle at Orlando’s

Buy the handmade straw hat or bags at the Wednesday morning market