There was a time when the beach kissed the edges of Viale Morin, when afternoon tea conversations flowed under the arches of pine trees, and when Malaparte and Virginia Agnelli strolled lazily through the gardens of Roma Imperiale. Those days seem to have returned, as the rebirth of Pensione America at Forte dei Marmi brings back the poetry, charm, and unique allure of summer retreats by the sea.

This late 19th-century villa was transformed into a guesthouse in the 1920s, living through nearly half a century of extraordinary hospitality. Then came a period of decline and abandonment. Today, the Maestrelli family, hoteliers genuinely in love with Forte, have revived this gem of Versilia (now a The Leading Hotels of the World five stars hotel) following a meticulous and exhilarating restoration led by the Florentine architect Piera Tempesti Benelli.

The guiding principle of the project was light. “The splendid light of Forte,” explains Tempesti Benelli, “which we restored to Pensione America by reopening the terraces and loggias on the facade that had been previously sealed.” Now, the hotel’s rooms once again embrace the views, colors, and fragrances of the garden—reimagined as an hortus conclusus with a pool at its heart. This garden-lounge also hides a rare gem: a surviving stretch of the ancient coastal dune, where a small belvedere—a charming altana with elegant columns—has been preserved and returned for the delight of summer guests.

Inside, the ambiance is one of sophisticated nostalgia. “Here,” shares Tempesti Benelli, “natural materials like wood, bamboo, and terracotta prevail. All the furniture is custom-designed, reinterpretations of a colonial style that perfectly aligns with the allure of Forte dei Marmi. The walls are dressed in white, with bursts of color introduced through hand-painted wallpapers and Sicilian artisanal ceramics.”

With its eighteen adults-only rooms, a quaint tennis club set for renovation next year, and the fantastic rose-orange hue of its origins, Pensione America brings back all the warmth of a timeless Forte.

Pensione America
(con Villa Roma Imperiale e Bagno Assunta parte di Collezione EM a Forte dei Marmi)
viale Colombo 24, Forte dei Marmi | +39 0584 78830
www.pensioneamerica.com | info@pensioneamerica.com | IG lapensioneamerica